Physiology - Vestibular System Flashcards
What is larger the vestibular or cochlear nucleus?
Vestibular nucleus
If hearing loss is unilateral at what stage must it occur in the auditory pathway?
Must occur before the cochlear nucleus
After that point basically everything is bilateral
Where do you find the primary auditory cortex?
Superior temporal lobe
How is auditory signals organised in the auditory cortex based on tone?
Low frequency - anterolateral
High frequency - posteromedial
There is no agreed area of the brain that is purely responsible for vestibular stimulation. T/F?
T
What is the sensory cell in the auditory/vestibular system?
Different types of these cells are responsible for vestibular and auditory function. T/F?
Hair cell
F - same ones do both
What part of the inner ear are responsible for rotational movement?
Tilt and acceleration?
Rotational movement - semicircular canals
Otolith organs/otocysts - tilt and acceleration
Where are the hair cells located?
Organ of Corti sitting on the basilar membrane in the cochlea
Vibrations first start at the oval window in the cochlea and then the finish at…
Round window
What membrane sits above the sterocilia (hair) on Organ of Corti?
Tectorial membrane
When the hair cell has become activated. What happens?
K+ influx
Becomes depolarised
A lack of what ion/ genetic defects in ion channel can result in hearing loss?
K+
Describe the relationship between distance from the oval window to different frequencies of sound
Closer to oval window - higher frequencies move hair cells
Further away - low frequencies move hair cells
What is the difference in function between outer and inner hair cells?
Outer - amplify membrane vibration
Inner - transport auditory signal
What transmitter is being released in the synapse?
Glutamate
