Vestibular System Flashcards
What are the three main inputs to the vestibular systems?
- visual
- proprioceptive
- vestibular information
- Pressure, vision, rotation and gravity
What are the outputs of the vestibular system?
mainly reflexes to maintain a stable posture and stable gaze
- Ocular reflex, postural control
- CNS integrates the information and generates the responses
Where is the vestibular organ in the ear?
- posterior area of the inner ear - petrous portion temporal bone
- Still hair cells
Where are the utricle and saccule located?
- in the vestibule and are joined by a conduit
- saccule is also joined to the cochlea
What are the three semi-circular canals on each ear?
anterior, posterior and lateral
What do the semicircular canal have?
an ampulla on one side, and they are connected to the utricle
Where is the vestibular organ in the skull?
- Superior projection of right bony labyrinth on base of skull
- The location of the vestibular organ draws planes for anterior and posterior canals
- These planes determine which structure will be stimulated with a specific head movement.
- 5 head movements structures, to generate right movement so planes are important
What do vestibular cells have?
- kinocilium (the biggest cilium)
- stereocilia (all orientated to one side)
What do the cilia allow?
the cells to depolarise the cell with movement of the endolymph generated by head movement
What are the otolith organs?
- Utricle
- saccule
How are the utricle and sacuule cells located?
on the maculae, placed horizontally in the utricle and vertically in the saccule
What does the maculae contain?
contain the hair cells, a gelatinous matrix and the otoliths on top
What are otholiths?
carbonate crystals that help the deflection of the hairs
Do semicircular cells have otholiths?
NO
Where are the hair cells in the canals located?
In the ampulla
What does. the rest of the canal have?
endolymph (liquid high in K+)
What is in the ampulla? What are the cells surrounded by?
- crista, where the hair cells are located
- cells are surrounded by the cupula which helps the hair cell movement
- The endolymph will push the cupula to one side or another will help deflection of. hairs
Why is the orientation of the semi-circular planes important?
- The orientation of the canals in the head defines three planes
- Anterior and posterior canals form a 90° angle
- Lateral canals are horizontal to the other canals.
Where do the primary afferent. end?
in vestibular nuclei (in brainstem) and in the cerebellum
Where do vestibular nuclei have projections to?
- Spinal cord
- Nuclei of the extraocular muscles
- Cerebellum
- Centres for cardiovascular + respiratory control
What are the vestibular reflexes?
- Vestibulospinal reflexes
- Vestibulocerebellar reflexse
- Vestibulo-ocular refelx (VOR.