Vestibular Patient Flashcards
What is the physiologic function of the vestibulochoclear system?
Maintain posture and balance relative to the head, body and limbs, detects acceleration and deceleration and coordinates eye movement
List some of the structures involved?
Bulla, pons, medulla, horizonal canal, inner ear, vestibular apparatus, choclea
How do hair cells help detect motion?
movement pulls on the hair cells and changes the rate of fire
Explain the purpose of each of the folllowing structures:
Semicircular canals
Saccule
Utricle
Ampulla
Semicircular canals - x, y and z plane
Saccule - vertical acceleration
Utricle - horizonal acceleration
Ampulla - rotational movement
What parts of the brain are considered central vestibular?
medulla and cerebellum
The vestibulospinal track is the only ____ track. (Contralateral or ipsilateral)
Ipsilateral
What role does the vestibular system have in eye movement?
Physiologic nystagmus and oculocephalic reflex
What nerves run through the middle ear?
Cranial nerve 7: Facial Nerve
Sympathetic to eye
What are the signs of horners sysndrome?
Miosis, ptosis, enophthalmos, 3rd eyelid protrusion
What are some clinical signs of vestibular disease?
Abnormal posture, vestibular ataxia, strabismus, nystagmus
How is nausea related to the inner ear?
Chemoreceptor trigger zone and vomiting center right next door
What are some treatments for nausea?
-Antihistamines (Target vestibular nucleus
-Ondansetron (target seratonins in CTZ)
-Metoclpramise (target dopamine)
-Maropitant (targets on CTZ and vomit center Neurokinin-1)
What are the goals of the neurologic exam in reference to vestibular dysfunction?
Localize (central versus peripheral), establish differntial diagnosis, determine diagnostic procedure and prognosis
What is the consciousness level of peripheral vs central vestibular disease?
Peripheral: alert but disoriented
Central: alert, disoriented, obtunded, stupor or coma
What can a patient be obtunded and stuporous with central vestibular?
The RAS system is right next door so if the lesion is large enough it may be affected as well
What does the gait look like in a vestibular patient?
asymmetric input, head tils, circle, rolling, leading (toward lesion) and vestibular ataxia
When a patient loses balance and is found in the archer pose, where is the lesion?
flexed leg is where the lesion is located (Lose tone on side with injury)