Vestibular anatomy + physiology Flashcards
What does the inner ear consist of?
Bony labyrinth, a system of passages making up 2 main functional parts
What are the 2 functional parts of bony labyrinth?
- Cochlea - dedicated to hearing
2. Vestibular system - dedicated to Balance
What can bony labyrinth be subdivided into?
- Vestibule
- 3 semicircular canal
- Cochlea
What are the pair of membranous sacs of vestibule?
- Saccule (Sacculus)
2. Utricle (Utriculus)
What do receptors in the vestibule provide for?
sensations of gravity and linear accelerations
What do semicircular canal enclose and what are receptors stimulated by?
Enclose slender semicircular duct
Receptors are stimulated by rotation of the head
What is The vestibular system comprised of ?
two types of sensors: the two otolith organs (the saccule and utricle), which sense linear acceleration (i.e., gravity and translational movements), and the three semicircular canals, which sense angular acceleration in three plane
What is sense of hearing provided by?
Receptors within cochlear duct
What are 2 sets of end organs in inner ear, or labyrinth?
- Semi circular canal
2. Utricle and saccule within vestibule
What is the function of semi circular canal?
Respond to rotational movement (angular head acceleration
What is the function of utricle and saccule within vestibule?
Respond to changes in the position of head with respect to gravity
What are inner ear function and symptoms?
Auditory - hearing loss, tinnitus, hyperacusis
Vestibular - dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness, imbalance, falls, oscillopsia
What is oscillopsia?
Visual disturbance in which objects in the visual field appear to oscillate
What is hyperacusis?
Heightened sensitivity to particular sounds
What is the vestibular part of the inner ear?
- Saccule
- Utricle
- 3 semicircular canal [anterior, posterior, horizontal] with their ampullary tissue
What does Otolith sense?
sense linear head acceleration
How are the superior and posterior semicircular canal orientated?
Vertically at right angles to each other
Lateral semicircular canal
about 30-degree angle from the horizontal plane
What does orientation of the canal cause?
A different canal to be stimulated by movement of head in different planes
What does horizontal canal detect?
Angular acceleration of head when the head the head is turned
What do superior and posterior canal detect?
Vertical head movement when the head is moved up or down