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Neuroscience II > Vestibular System > Flashcards

Vestibular System Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 3 systems that contribute to postural control?

A
  1. vestibular
  2. visual
  3. somatosensory
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2
Q

What are the fxns of the vestibular system?

A
  1. sense and perceive self-motion
  2. postural control
  3. stabilization of gaze
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3
Q

Stabilization of gaze involves the ________-________ reflex.

A

vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR)

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4
Q

What are 3 elements to postural control?

A
  1. orient to vertical
  2. stabilize head
  3. control COM
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5
Q

Peripheral sensory apparatus components:

A
  1. 3 semicircular canals

2. otoliths

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6
Q

Central processor components:

A

vestibular nuclei

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7
Q

Motor output components:

A
  1. VOR (for gaze stability)

2. vestibulospinal (for posture/balance responses)

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8
Q

Name 3 broad components to vestibular system:

A
  1. peripheral apparatus
  2. central apparatus
  3. motor output
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9
Q

Peripheral vestibular apparatus and cochlea are imbedded in what bone?

A

petrous portion of temporal bone

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10
Q

What membrane lined chamber houses the vestibular apparatus and cochlea?

A

membranous labyrinth

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11
Q

The VISCOUS fluid that fills the membranous labyrinth chamber is:

A

endolymph

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12
Q

The fluid that fills the space between membrane and bone is:

A

perlymph

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13
Q

How many planes to the 3 semi-circular canals?

A

3 planes

anterior/posterior/lateral

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14
Q

All 3 semicircular canals open at both ends to the:

A

utricle

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15
Q

The extended portion at the end of each semicircular canal is the:

A

ampulla

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16
Q

The hair cell mechanism within the ampulla is called:

A

crista or “crist”

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17
Q

Crista hair cell receptors are covered by:

A

gelatinous cupula

18
Q

The cupula is exposed it:

A

endolymph

19
Q

Crista hair cell receptors have protruding _______.

A

stereocilia

20
Q

The longest sterocilia are the _______, which are arranged in the same direction within each canal.

A

kinocilum

21
Q

Semicircular Canals detect:

A

angular acceleration

22
Q

What causes cilia on hair cells to bend?

A

due to viscosity, with head movement the endolymph lags behind and pushes cupula

23
Q

What results in increased firing rate?

A

when stereocilia bend TOWARD kinocilum

depolarization (+) of hair cells occurs

24
Q

What results in decreased firing rate?

A

when stereocilia bend AWAY FROM kinocilum

hyperpolarization (-) of hair cells occurs

25
Q

Baseline firing rate is equal bilaterally at _____ spikes/sec.

A

80-100 spikes/sec

26
Q

Receptor potentials summate in hair cells and cause:

A

neurotransmitter release at base of hair cell

AP generation in CN VIII

27
Q

Describe the push-pull arrangement

A

equal and opposite response of complimentary canals (reciprocal signals)
ex: R rotation means increased firing of R lateral canal and decreased firing of L lateral canal

28
Q

Head movement velocity is proportional to

A

firing rate of CN VIII

29
Q

What two structures make up the otolothic organs?

A

saccule and utricle

30
Q

Otoliths detect:

A

linear acceleration

static head position relative to gravity

31
Q

Otolith orientation:

A 
saccule = vertical
utricle = horizontal
32
Q

Otolithic receptor area is called:

A

macula

33
Q

What makes otoliths sensitive to gravity?

A

calcium carbonate crystals called otoconia

34
Q

What are the 4 vestibular nuclei?

A
  1. superior
  2. inferior (descending)
  3. medial
  4. lateral (deiter’s)
35
Q

Info is conveyed from hair cells by vestibular portion of CN VIII to the ______:

A

vestibular nuclei

36
Q

Describe central processing of vesicular nuclei?

A
  • different nuclei have different afferent and efferent connections
  • vestibular nuclei integrate visual and somatosensory info in addition to vestibular
37
Q

Motor output goes down to SC via _______ and up to eye movement nuclei via ______.

A

down: vestibulospinal tracts
up: MLF (medial longitudinal fasiculus)

38
Q

Symptomatology of vestibular dysfxn

A 
dizzy
light-headed
vertigo
disequilibrium
oscillopsia
39
Q

What is oscillopsia?

A

unstable, moving visual field

40
Q

What is the term for abnormal sense of movement that occurs more with acute unilateral lesions?

A

vertigo (vertigenous)

41
Q

Common tumor that influences vestibular system?

A

acoustic schwannoma

42
Q

What are some influences that aging has on vestibular system?

A

vascular
neuropathy
central processing
stroke

Neuroscience II (13 decks)

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