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Neuroscience > The vestibular system > Flashcards

The vestibular system Flashcards

1
Q

What is the vestibular system?

A

Provides information about balance and positioning

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2
Q

What are the major anatomical structures of the vestibular system? (2)

A
  • Semi-circular canals

- Otolith organs

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3
Q

What is the function of the semi-circular canals?

A

3 different types detect different types of head rotation

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4
Q

What are the ampullas and what is their function?

A
  • Wide openings at the ends of the semi-circular canals

- Contain the hair cells (transducers)

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5
Q

What are the 2 Otolith organs?

A
  • Utricle

- Saccule

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6
Q

What is the function of the Otolith organs?

A

Detect linear motion

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7
Q

What kind of motion does the saccule detect?

A

Linear motion in the vertical plane (up and down)

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8
Q

What kind of motion does the utricle detect?

A

Linear motion in the horizontal plane (backwards and forwards)

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9
Q

How many semi-circular canals are there?

A

3

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10
Q

How many Otolith organs are there?

A

2

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11
Q

Which fluid is inside the semi-circular canals?

A

Endolymph

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12
Q

What is the composition of endolymph?

A

High K+ content

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13
Q

Which fluid is inside the Otolith organs?

A

Endolymph

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14
Q

Which neurotransmitter is used in the vestibular system?

A

Glutamate

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15
Q

How does the function of hair cells in the vestibular system differ from the auditory system?

A

Exactly the same function but vestibular hair cells respond to lower frequencies

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16
Q

What range of frequency can the vestibular hair cells respond to?

A

0 - 20 Hz

17
Q

How does the structure of hair cells in the vestibular system differ from the auditory system?

A
  • More rows of stereocilia in the hair bundle in the vestibular system
  • Vestibular hair cells keep their kinocilium throughout their life but auditory hair cells don’t
18
Q

What is the kinocilium?

A

A special cilium which determines the polarity of the hair bundle

19
Q

What are the 2 types of vestibular hair cells?

A
  • Type 1

- Type 2

20
Q

What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 vestibular hair cells?

A
  • Type 2 has a normal synapse to afferent neuron

- Type 1 has expanded calyx afferent neuron

21
Q

What are macula?

A

Sensory patches containing hair cells inside the Otolith organs

22
Q

What lies on top of the hair cells in the Otolith organs?

A

Gelatinous otolithic membrane

23
Q

What are the otoconia?

A

Calcium carbonate crystals on top of the gelatinous otolithic membrane in the Otolith organs

24
Q

What is the striola?

A
  • A line separating the hair cells in half in the Otolith organs
  • The hair cells are positioned in opposite directions on either side so when one side is activated, the other is inhibited
25
Q

How is motion detected in the Otolith organs?

A
  • Otoconia pull on the otolithic membrane due to gravity when there is movement
  • Hair bundles are in contact with the otolithic membrane which pulls the stereocilia towards the tallest/shortest one, causing depolarisation/hyperpolarisation
  • Half the hair cells are depolarised, half are hyperpolarised
26
Q

Which fluid is inside the ampulla?

A

Endolymph

27
Q

What is the cupula?

A

Gelatinous membrane in the ampulla into which hair cells project their hair bundles into

28
Q

How is motion detected in the ampulla?

A
  • The higher inertia of the endolymph than the solid structures pushes the cupula during rotation
  • This pushes the cupula and the hair bundles in the opposite direction to motion
29
Q

How are the hair cells orientated in the ampulla?

A

In both ears, the hair cells are orientated with the tallest stereocilia towards the front (the face)

30
Q

How do the semi-circular canals work in pairs?

A
  • The hair bundles are orientated in the same way which means that during motion, the hair cells in one ear are activated while the other ear is inhibited
  • The endolymph is moving in the same direction in both ears
31
Q

Which part of the brain is highly involved in motor coordination?

A

Cerebellum

32
Q

What is the vestibulo-ocular reflex?

A

Communication from the vestibular system to the visual system to keep the eyes stabilised during head movement

33
Q

What is vestibular nystagmus?

A
  • Mechanism which enables the resetting of eye position during prolonged head rotation
34
Q

What are the phases of vestibular nystagmus?

A
  • Slow phase where eyes rotate in the opposite direction to head movement
  • Quick phase where eyes are rapidly reset to the centre of the gaze

Neuroscience (18 decks)

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