Lecture 29: Neuroanatomy of the Auditory and Vestibular Systems Flashcards
What are the functions of the vestibular system
Transduce and interpret head movements, maintain position of visual axes when head is moving, send motor commands to the trunk and limb muscles in order to maintain balance
What is the vestibulo-ocular reflex
Maintain positioning of the visual axes when the head is moving
What is the function of the auditory system
Transduce and interpret vibrations due to sound
What structure receives information from the organs of balance on head movement and information on muscle firing from the cerebellum
Vestibular nuclei in the brain stem
What is the pathway of information on the head and body movement
Utricle, saccule and ampulla—> scarpa’s ganglion—> CN VIII—> nuclei in brainstem
What is responsible for sending motor to antigravity muscles to maintain upright posture
Vestibulospinal tracts
What is the pathway of motor to extraocular nuclei to coordinate eye movements
Medial longitudinal fasciculus—> oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nuclei
What brain structure is responsible for receiving input on body position and movement from cortex, spinal cord and vestibular movement. Coordinates motor output through the cortical and vestibular pathways. Coordinates timing of movement
Cerebellum
What could be the result of a lesion to CN VII or the vestibular nuclei
Disruptions in stance, head posture, and balance. Damage that includes the vestibular nuclei can also lead to loss of extensor muscle tone
What structures are encased within the bony labyrinth
Organs of balance and hearing, contained with the petrous portion of the temporal bone
What is the flow from the air filled outer and middle ear cavities to fluid filled ear cavities
Sound energy (outer)—> through tympanic membrane—> auditory ossicles (malleus-incus-stapes in middle ear)—-> oval window (inner ear)
What are the vestibular organs
Semicircular ducts, utricle, saccule and vestibular nerve
What are the cochlear organs
Cochlear duct and cochlear nerve
What region contains endolymph
Membranous labyrinth
What region contains perilymph
Region between the membranous ducts and the bony labyrinth
What type of receptors are located in the vestibular and cochlear apparatus and what do they depend on
Mechanoreceptors that depend on the mechanical displacement of receptors by fluid
What structures are responsible for sensing rotation of head
Semicircular ducts and ampulla
What structures are responsible for sensing linear head movement in a horizontal plane
Utricle and macula
What structures are responsible for sensing linear head movement in vertical plane
Saccule and macula
What is the vestibular ganglion
Scarpa’s ganglion
What vestibular organs and how many of each are located on each side of head
3 semicircular ducts with 1 ampulla
1 utricle with one macula
1 saccule with one macula
1 vestibular ganglion/scarpa’s ganglion
What is the function of the saccule
To monitor and activate in response to linear acceleration of vertical movements (up and down) relative to gravity vector
What is the function of the utricle
To monitor and activate response to linear acceleration of horizontal movements (side to side, front to back) relative to the gravity vector
What is the function of the three semicircular ducts
Function to monitor and respond to angular acceleration (rotation) of head in all planes