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Neuroscience > Vestibular pathways > Flashcards

Vestibular pathways Flashcards

1
Q

Outline the visual pathway

A

Optic nerve consists of axons from retinal ganglion cells -> optic chiasm -> optic tract -> from lateral geniculate nucleus, optic radiation projects -> primary visual cortex

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2
Q

What is the extra striate cortex?

A

Region adjacent to the primary visual cortex that is necessary for higher visual processing

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3
Q

What is a receptive field?

A

It is the space in the retina within which light falling upon it will alter the firing rate of a given neuron.

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4
Q

What is convergence?

A

It is the number of lower order neurones that synapse with one higher order neurones

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5
Q

What is the difference in convergence between rod and cone cells?

A

Cone cells: Low convergence, few photoreceptors synapse on one ganglion cell. Smaller receptive field.
Rod cells: Higher convergence but low near the macula than the peripheral retina

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6
Q

What is the difference and significance of low and high convergence?

A

Low convergence: small receptive field, fine visual acuity, low light sensitivity
High convergence: large receptive field, course visual acuity, high light sensitivity

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7
Q

What is the difference between on and off centre retinal ganglion cells?

A

On-centre: Stimulated by light falling at the centre of its receptive field and inhibited by light falling on its edge
Off-centre: Inhibited by light falling on its centre and stimulated by light falling on the edge of its receptive field
-Important in enhanced edge detection

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8
Q

How does a lesion anterior and posterior to the optic chiasm affect vision?

A

Anterior lesion: Affects one eye

Posteiror lesion: Affects both eyes

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9
Q

Where do crossed and uncrossed fibres arise from?

A

Crossed: Nasal retina responsible for the temporal half of the visual field
Uncrossed: Temporal retina responsible for nasa half of visual field

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10
Q

What occurs to your vision with a lesion at the optic chiasm?

A

Affects crossed fibres e.g. those from nasal retina

Bitemporal hemianopia

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11
Q

What occurs to your vision with a lesion posterior to the optic chiasm?

A

Right sided lesion: left homonymous hemianopia in both eyes

Left sided lesion: right homonymous hemianopia in both eyes

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12
Q

What are the different parts of optic radiation?

A 
Upper division (parietal lobe): inferior visual quadrants
Lower division (temporal lobe): superior visual quadrants. Loops back anteriorly and forms Meyer's loop.
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13
Q

What is Meyer’s loop lesion?

A

Loss of vision in one of the superior quadrants.

Superior homonymous quadrantopia

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14
Q

What happens if there is a lesion to the parietal lobe?

A

Inferior homonymous quadrantopia

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15
Q

What is a cause of a bitemporal hemianopia?

A

Pituitary gland tumour as it sits below the optic chiasm

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16
Q

What can cause a homonymous hemianopia?

A

Stroke or cerebrovascular accident

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17
Q

Where is the primary visual cortex and how do you recognise it?

A

Situated along the calcarine sulcus in the occipital lobe

Characterised by a distinct white myelinated fibre of the optic radiation

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18
Q

What does the primary visual cortex function as?

A

Processes visual info for static and moving objects

Large area represents macular central vision

19
Q

Where do the inferior and superior visual fields project to?

A

Inferior visual field: projects above calcarine fissure

Superior visual field: projects below calcarine fissure

20
Q

Where do the right and left hemifields project to?

A

Right hemifield projects to left primary visual cortex

Left hemifield projects to right primary visual cortex

21
Q

How is the primary visual cortex organised?

A

In functional columns, each sensitive to visual stimuli at different orientations

22
Q

What is meant by macular sparing and when would this present?

A

Presents in contralateral homonymous hemianopia

Macular is spared as it receives dual blood supply from right and left posterior cerebral arteries

23
Q

What is the extrastriate cortex?

A

It is the area around the primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe.
Converts basic visual information, orientation into complex

24
Q

What is the dorsal pathway?

A

Primary visual cortex -> parietal lobe
Motion detection
Damage results in motion blindness

25
Q

What is the ventral pathway?

A

Primary visual cortex-> inferiotemporal cortex
Object and facial recognition
Detailed and fine visual acuity
Damage results in cerebral achromatopsia

26
Q

What is the pupillary response in light?

A 
Ciliary muscle contraction
Decreases size of pupillary aperture
Reduces photopigment bleaching
Increases depth of field 
Decreases glare
Mediated by parasympathetic nerve of CNIII
27
Q

What is the pupillary response in darkness?

A

Pupil dilation due to sympathetic nerve (ophthalmic nerve)
Iris radial muscle contracts
Increases light sensitivity

28
Q

Describe the afferent pathway of the pupillary light reflex

A

Pupil specific retinal ganglion cells exit the posterior third of the optic tract
Synapse at the pretectal nucleus of the brainstem and relay to the Edinger-westphal nucleus
Constricts the pupil via pupillary sphincter via the ciliary ganglion

29
Q

What is the consensual light response?

A

Only one eye needs to be stimulated to elicit the pupillary constriction response

30
Q

Describe the efferent pathway of the pupillary light reflex

A

Parasympathetic nerve from Edinger-westphal nucleus

Synapses at ciliary ganglion -> short posterior ciliary nerve -> innervates pupillary sphincter

31
Q

Describe the response with a right afferent defect

A

No pupil constriction of either eye when right eye is stimulated
Pupil constriction occurs in both when left is stimulated

32
Q

Describe the response with a right efferent defect

A

Pupil constriction on the right does not occur when right eye is stimulated but does on the left with either stimulation.
No constriction of the right eye when either eye is stimulated.

33
Q

What would you expect to see in a swinging torch test when there is right afferent damage?

A

If the torch is swung to the right; the pupils will paradoxically dilate due to a reduced parasympathetic drive for pupillary constriction in both eyes.

34
Q

What is the sympathetic innervation for pupil dilation?

A

Post synaptic neurons travel down the brainstem and synapse at the superior cervical ganglion.
Third order neurons travel through the carotid plexus and enter the orbit through V1 of CNV

35
Q

What is the difference between smooth pursuit and saccade?

A

Smooth pursuit is involuntary (up to 60 degrees per second).

Saccade is voluntary or involuntary (up to 900 degrees/sec)

36
Q

Where do the extra ocular muscles originate?

A

The rectus muscles originate in the common tendinous ring and insert into the sclera of the anterior globe.
The inferior oblique comes in nasally (maxillary bone).

37
Q

What is the difference between the superior oblique and superior rectus?

A

Superior oblique: maximal depression when eye is in adducted position.
Superior rectus: maximal elevation when eye is in abducted position.

38
Q

Key difference between rectus and oblique muscles?

A

Rectus: Abduction, attach to the anterior of the globe and pull backwards
Oblique: Adduction, attach to the posterior of the globe and pull forwards

39
Q

Why is it that only when the eye is fully abducted can only the superior and inferior rectus muscles elevate or depress it?

A

This is because at this position, the anterior-posterior axis of the eye is aligned with the insertion of the vertical rectus muscles.

40
Q

What does the superior and inferior branch of CNIII supply?

A

Superior branch: superior rectus, lid levator palpebrae

Inferior branch: inferior rectus, medial rectus, inferior oblique, parasympathetic nerve

41
Q

Describe what is third nerve palsy?

A

Only extra ocular muscles not supplied by CNIII are working i.e. superior oblique and lateral rectus.
Eye moves down and out.
Ptosis
Pupil dilation

42
Q

Describe what is sixth nerve palsy?

A

Lateral rectus muscle of the affected eye is unable to carry out abduction.
Affected eye is unable to abduct and will deviate inwards.
Will have double vision when asked to look at side of the affected eye.
Common: microvascular disease can cause nerve damage

43
Q

What is optokinetic nystagmus and how is this reflex important?

A 
Smooth pursuit (tracking) and fast reset saccade
Useful to test using moving grating pattern in pre-verbal children to assess their visual acuity.
44
Q

Which pathway is responsible for coordinating eye movements?

A

The medial longitudinal fasciculus connected the vestibular nuclei to the occulomotor, trochlear and abducens.

Neuroscience (19 decks)

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