Vestibular System And Cerebellum Flashcards
Vestibular N
- enters brainstem in Pontomedullary sulcus
- courses below restiform body
- terminate in one or more of 4 vestibular nuclei–vestibular nuclei, fastigial nuclei, flocculonodular lobe
Medial longitudinal fasciculations
- fibers from vestibular nuclei and paramedian pontine reticular formation (PPRF) decussation in pons and ascend into the MLF and descend into the medial vestibuli spinal tract
- most fibers in MLF are crossed and originate from opposite side
- terminates in Oculomotor, Trochlear, and Abducens nuclei
Vestibulo-ocular pathway
- MLF terminates in Oculomotor, Trochlear, and Abducens
- Oculomotor system: role in coordinated, synchronized eye movements, and horizontal gaze
- horizontal gaze involves coordinated contractions of lateral rectus of one eye and medial rectus of other eye
Paramedian pontine reticular formation
- critical center for horizontal gaze
- staging and coordinating area for Oculomotor system
- sends fibers to Abducens nucleus of same side for influencing the ipsilateral lateral rectus
- also sends fibers to the contralateral MLF to the contralateral Oculomotor nucleus that innervates the medial rectus
Medial vestibulospinal tract
- descending continuation of Medial Longitudinal Fasciculus in SC
- primarily an uncrossed descending tract
- influences the Ms of neck, upper back, and proximal upper limbs
- key link in coordinating the positioning of head relative to eye movements
Lateral Vestibulospinal Tract
- originates from lateral vestibular nucleus–>descends in lateral funiculus–>terminates ipsilateral intermediate gray
- facilitates extensor tone and reflexes of antigravity axial and appendicular musculature
Reticular formation
- strong, bilateral projections from vestibular nuclei
- connections affect the somatic motor system (postural tone)
- provides a mechanism for visceral autonomic effects or disturbances (vertigo, nausea, vomiting)
Juxtarestiform body
-vestibular connection to the cerebellum courses thru the medial portion of the inferior cerebellar peduncle
Vestibulo-cerebellum
-vestibular system and cerebellum are linked by the flocculo-nodular lobe and its deep cerebellar nucleus, fastigii
Flocculo-nodular lobe
Receives input from vestibular nuclei and reticular formation
-output from cortex is directly to fastigial nucleus
Direct fastigiobulbar tract
- fibers originate in fastigial nucleus
- terminate in ipsilateral vestibular nuclei and RF
Indirect fastigiobulbar tract
- fibers originating in fastigial nucleus
- decussation in cerebellar commissure
- bifurcate ascending and descending limbs
Connection of the vestibular system with the extra pyramidal system
Flocculonodular lobe–>fastigial nucleusvestibular nuclei–>MVST and LVST for axial musculature
The fastigial nucleus sends info to the ventral lateral nucleus and then to the primary motor cortex and the anterior corticospinal tract which works on axial musculature
Doll’s Eyes Maneuver
-in an unconscious pt without cervical injury, side to side movement of head results in horizontal movement of eyes in opposite direction
Head turns right
Horizontal gaze to left–>normal finding
Right addicts, left neutral–>left VI palsy
R neutral, left abducts–>right III palsy
No response–>midbrain damage
Head turns left Horizontal gaze to right-->normal finding L neutral, R abduct-->left III palsy L adducts, R neutral-->right IV palsy No response: midbrain damage
Oculocaloric Testing
-in an unconscious pt, injection of cold water into the ext. auditory meatus results in horizontal gaze toward side of stimulus
Ex: testing R ear
- R eye abducts, L eye adducts–normal
- R eye abducts, L eye no response–left III N palsy
- R eye no response, L eye adducts–R VI N palsy
- R eye no response, L eye no response–R VIII N palsy, midbrain damage