Vestibular System Flashcards
What is the vestibular system?
A special proprioceptive system that primarily influences postural (axial) and proximal limb muscle tone and the oculomotor system
The vestibular system signals changes in what?
The position of the head with respect to gravity (static detection) and motion of the head (kinetic detection)
What is the doll’s eye maneuver?
In the unconscious pt without cervical injury, side to side movement of the head results in horizontal movement of the eyes in the opposite direction
If while testing the doll’s eye maneuver the pt turns their head to the right and the response is right eye adduction and left eye remains neutral what is the indication?
Left VI palsy
While testing the doll’s eye maneuver, the pt turns their head to the right and the response is the right eye remains neutral while the left eye abducts what is the indication?
Right III palsy
In a conscious pt ice water injected into the external auditory meatus creates what?
A convention current in the endolymph of the lateral semicircular duct
In pts with an intact brainstem, ice water caloric testing causes what?
The eyes to turn toward the stimulus and they show horizontal nystagmus to the non-stimulated (opposite side)
Warm water caloric testing normally causes what?
The eyes to turn away from the stimulus with horizontal nystagmus towards the stimulated ear
What is the mnemonic for nystagmus during caloric testing?
COWS
Cold opposite, warm same
Absent vestibuloccular response (VOR) suggests what?
Ipsilateral vestibular impairment of the stimulated semicircular duct
Both the doll’s eye maneuver and oculocaloric testing use which fibers?
MLF
Vestibular receptors are innervated by what?
Dendrites of bipolar neurons that form the vestibular nerve
Where is the vestibular (Scarpa’s) ganglion found?
Near the vestibular portion of the membranous labyrinth and consists of bipolar neurons
The vestibular nuclei projects influences to what 4 principal tracts or areas?
Medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF), medial vestibulospinal tract (MVST), lateral vestibulospinal tract (LVST) and reticular formation
The medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF) is the critical link what?
Synchronized eye movements especially horizontal gaze