Vestibular System Flashcards
List the 3 main inputs the vestibular system includes.
Visual, proprioceptive and vestibular information
What are the outputs of the vestibular system?
Reflexes to maintain a stable posture and stable gaze.
OCULAR REFLEX and POSTURAL CONTROL
Which nervous system integrates the inputs of the vestibular system and generate the outputs?
CNS
Where does the vestibular organ reside?
Within the posterior area of the inner ear
The ear is separated into 3 parts. Name them.
Outer, middle and inner ear
What type of cells are present in the inner ear for hearing and balance?
Hair cells
What structure within the inner ear is anterior?
The cochlea concerned with auditory input.
What structure within the inner ear is posterior?
Labyrinth concerned with the vestibular system. The bony labyrinth resides within the petrous part of the temporal bone.
Where are the utricle and saccule located and what are they joined by?
The utricle and saccule are located within the vestibule and are joined by a conduit. (saccule is also joined to the cochlea)
How many semicircular canals are there in each ear?
Anterior, posterior and lateral
What are the ampullae of the semi-circular canals on each side connected to?
Utricle
What is the labyrinth in the skull?
Superior projection located within the petrous part of the temporal lobe.
The location of the vestibular organ draws planes for what?
Anterior and posterior canals.
These planes determine which structure will be stimulated with a specific head movement.
Name the 2 main structures that hair cells in the vestibular system have.
Vestibular hair cells have a kinocilium (largest cilium) and stereocilia.
What is the purpose of cilia in vestibular hair cells?
Cilia allows the cells to depolarise the cell with movement of the endolymph generated by head movement.
What are the otolith organs?
Utricle and saccule
Where are the cells of the otolith organs located?
On the maculae, placed horizontally in the utricle and vertically in the saccule.
What do the maculae contain?
The maculae contain the hair cells, a gelatinous matrix which includes otolith crystals superiorly located (carbonate crystals that support the deflection of stereocilia).
Where are the hair cells of the semicircular canals located?
Ampulla
What does the rest of the semicircular canal (not the ampulla) have?
The rest of the canal only has a liquid high in potassium called endolymph.