The Vestibular System Flashcards
Tells us which way is up and where we are going
Vestibular system
Vestibulospinal and cervicospinal reflexes act to maintain
Posture
Controls reflexive eye movements with pathways that involve the cerebellum and the oculomotor nuclei
Vestibular System
Keep the eyes still when the head moves
Vestibulo-ocular reflexes
Enable the skeletomotor system to compensate for head movements
Vestibulospinal reflexes
The vestibular system detects which two forms of acceleration?
- ) Linear
2. ) Angular
Vestibular-Cerebellar control of blood pressure and Panic Disorders
SIDS
Age related decreases in vestibular system functions
Presbystasis
We have a 40% loss of sensory hair cells by the
9th decade
By age 60, what percentage of patients report vertigo and dizziness?
30%
Relate to the position of the head and are mediated primarily by the otolithic organs
Static Functions of Vestibular System
Are associated with detecting head movements
Dynamic functions of the vestibular system
Angular accelerations are detected by the
Semicircular canals
Linear accelerations are monitored by the
Otolithic organs
Function in pairs
Semicircular canals
Specialized regions of the vestibular labrynth contain
Receptors (Hair Cells)
Semicircular canals are made up of an
Ampulla and cupula
Contain the ampullary crest a thickened epithelium populated by hair cells
Ampullae
A gelatinous mass that covers the ampullary crest
Cupula
The ampullae of the semicircular canals are designed to detect
Angular acceleration
Bending of the sterocilia towards the kinocilium
Depolarization
Bending of the stereocilia away from the kinocilium
Hyperpolarization
What are the two ampullary crests of the semicircular canals
- ) Horizontal canals
2. ) Vertical canals
In the horizontal canals, the kinocilium faces the
Utricle
In the vertical canals, the kinocilium faces
Away from the utricle
Due to the VOR, if the head turns right, the eyes roll
Left