Vestibular Anatomy Flashcards
Signs and Symptoms of Vestibular Dysfunction
Dizziness Blurry Vision Nystagmus Tinnitus Vertigo Hearing loss Loss of balance & possible falls Broad-based stance (to accommodate for imbalance) Sweating, nausea, and vomiting (due to ANS involvement)
What are the two main reflexes of the vestibular system?
VOR: Vestibulo-ocular Reflex
VSR: Vestibulo-spinal Reflex
What are head movements detected by?
cupula
Vestibulo Ocular Reflex
Stabilizes eye in space
Necessary to see while head is in motion
Components of VOR:
angular and linear VOR
Vestibulo-Spinal Reflex
Stabilizes body
Helps maintain desired orientation to environment
Cervical Reflexes
cervicoocular reflex
cervicocollic reflex
cervicospinal reflex
Cervicoocular Reflex (COR)
Weak reflex
Does not play direct role in gaze stability
May help VOR to compensate
Proprioceptors and somatosensory receptors
-C1-C2 dorsal nerve roots
Cervicocollic Reflex (CCR)
Provides head stability
Contraction of stretched muscles to align head
Cervicospinal Reflex (CSR)
acts in conjuction with the VSR
-provides postural stability through limb activation
Three axes of rotation:
roll
pitch
yaw
Three axes of translation
AP
lateral
vertical
Pitch:
up and down
Yaw
head movement side to side in horizontal plane (shaking head no)
Roll
lateral side bending
What do semicircular canals detect?
angular rate
What do otoliths (saccule and utricle) detect?
linear acceleration
Functions of peripheral vestibular system:
Stabilization of visual images on the fovea of the retina during head movement to allow clear vision
Maintain postural stability especially during movement of the head
Provide information used for spatial orientation
Peripheral vestibular components:
Semicircular canals (SCC)
Utricle
Saccule
CN VIII: Vestibulocochlear nerve
Orientation of semicircular canals:
Anterior/superior
Lateral/horizontal
Posterior/inferior
What are the components of the labyrinth?
bony
membranous