The Vestibular System

Question 1

The otolith organs (the utricle and saccule) detect _______ of the head and position with respect to gravity, whereas the semicircular
canal organs detect ________.

Answer 1

linear acceleration (change in velocity)
angular accelerations

Question 2

The vestibular afferent nerves have cell bodies in ______ganglion and project to the ________
vestibular nuclei located at the border of the caudal pons and rostral medulla

Answer 2

Scarpa’s,

ipsilateral

Question 3

The semicircular canals project mainly to the medial and superior vestibular nuclei. These
cells in turn give rise to the _______ that carries information to the oculomotor nuclei.

Answer 3

medial longitudinal fasciculus

Question 4

Each hair bundle has several stereocilia and at one side a single ______ , which gives the hair cell directional sensitivity.

Answer 4

kinocilium

Question 5

In the semicircular canals, during motion, the endolymph moves the ______ and stimulates hair cells in the ________.

Answer 5

cupula,

crista ampullaris

Question 6

What kind of motion is sensed by the capula?

Answer 6

Acceleration,

deceleration

Question 7

What kind of motion is not sensed by the capula?

Answer 7

continued motion (Adaptation)

Question 8

Each macula has a gelatinous layer with ________ overlying the hair cell bundles.

Answer 8

otoconia (calcium carbonate crystals)

Question 9

Mammals, birds and reptiles have type I and type II hair cells in their vestibular epithelia.
Type 1 have _____ afferents
Type II have _____ afferents

Answer 9

calyx,

bouton

Question 10

whats is the vestibular occular reflex?

Answer 10

Enables stable visual field during head movement