Vestibular Function Flashcards
What is the vestibular system?
A sensory system essential in control of posture and balance
Describe the vestibular apparatus
3 Semi-circular canals, the utricle, the saccule
The ampulla, utricle and saccule contain what?
Hair cells
What makes up the otolith organs?
The utricle and saccule
What do otolith organs detect?
Linear accelaration and encode info about position of head in space
What do SCC’s detect?
Rotational acceleration
Where are sensory cells of semi-circular canals embedded?
The ampulla
What responds to movement of endolymph?
The cupula
Where are the cupula found?
Within the cristae which are within the ampulla
What lies within the cupula?
The cilia of hair cells which synapse directly onto CNVIII
What happens when the skull is rotated left or right from rest?
Endolymph does not move at first, due to its inertia yet the ampulla moves instantly. Inertia of endolymph produces drag which bends the cupula and its cilia in the opposite direction.
If the head is rotated at constant direction, what occurs?
Endolymph catches up and rotates at same speed, removing the shearing forces
What occurs if there is a sudden stop in head rotation?
Endolymph will continue to move due to momentum creating a sense of movement and dizziness
Name the two types of cilia within the ear?
Kinocilium and stereocilia
What happens if cillia is distorted towards the kinocillium?
Depolarisation and increased AP’s in vestibular nerve