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Flashcards in CN VIII Deck (57)
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1
Q

Branches of vestibulochoclear n

A

Cochlear - hearing and detection of sound waves

Vestibular - sensation, head position relative to space and head movements relative to the body

2
Q

CN VIII path

A

Exits brainstem at pontomedullary junction

  • subarachnoid space to enter internal auditory meatus
  • w/ NC VII in auditory canal through temporal bone
  • enter cochlear and vestibular organs
3
Q

Hearing and vestibular sensations come from

A

Structures contained in inner ear

4
Q

Inner ear

A

Semicircular canals
Vestibule
Cochlear

5
Q

Bony labyrinth

A

Filled with perilymph

6
Q

Membranous labyrinth

A

Filled with endolymph

  • semicircular canals
  • utricle and saccule
  • cochlear duct
7
Q

Cochlea

A

Contains

  • Scalia vestibule (superior chamber of perilymph)
  • Scalia tympani (inferior chamber)
  • cochlear duct b/n them
  • basilar membrane b/n cochlear duct and Scalia tympani (extends entire width of cochlea)
  • organ of corti (in cochlear duct, residing on basilar membrane - hair cells, tectorial membrane, terminals of cochlear nerve)
8
Q

Converting sounds to neural signals

A
  • sound waves hip tympanic membrane —> vibration of ossicles
  • vibration of oval window (Scalia vestibule) —> move perilymph
  • vibration of basilar membrane —> hair cells move
  • hair cell movement stimulates cochlear nerve
9
Q

Hair cells and frequency

A

Higher frequency sound activate cells closer to oval window

Lower frequency activate closer to apex of cochlea

10
Q

Axons of CN VIII travel to the dorsal and ventral cochlear nuclei

A

Fibers from both nuclei cross over via trapezioid body (ventral cochlear synapse bilaterally in superior oligarchs nuclei)
Ascend in lateral leminiscus to inferior colliculus
Fibers cross and ascend in brachium of inferior colliculus to MGN

11
Q

Information from one ear ascends

A

Bilaterally which is why you get info on both sides of your brain from one ear

12
Q

Small CNS lesions (CN VIII)

A

Rarely cause unilateral loss of hearing because auditory info projects bilaterally in brainstem and cerebrum

13
Q

Primary auditory cortex

A

Conscious awareness of intensity of sound

14
Q

Auditory association cortex

A

Compares sounds with memories of other sounds and classifies sounds (Area 42) (as language, music, noise, etc.)

Wernicke’s area (Area 22)- language comprehension

15
Q

Unilateral hearing loss - damage to

A
Damage to external auditory canal
middle ear
cochlear
organ of corti
Cochlear nerve
Cochlear nuclei
16
Q

Unilateral hearing loss

A

Interferes w/ ability to locate sounds because timing of auditory info from each ear is combated to locate sounds

17
Q

Conductive hearing loss

A

Caused by abnormalities in outer or middle ear

-wax buildup, otitis media, tympainic membrane tear

18
Q

Sensorineural hearing loss

A

Disorders of cochlear or CN VIII

Prolonged exposure to loud noise, onto toxic drugs, Menderes disease, acoustic neuroma

19
Q

Basic hearing can be tested with

A

Different frequencies

20
Q

Conductive and sensorineural hearing loss can be tested

A

using tuning fork w/ rinne or Weber test

21
Q

Acoustic neuroma

A

Compress CN III where it enteres auditory meatus

22
Q

Tumor at cerebellopontine angle

A
Most common cause of acoustic neuroma
-almost always unilateral 
-slow, progressive unilateral hearing loss w/ c/o tinnitus and balance problems
-mean age of onset is 50yo
Can include CN VII and CN V 
Removed surgically
23
Q

Vestibular sensation

A

Structures in inner ear

24
Q

Vestibular apparatus

A

Semicircular canals and vestibule

Bone labyrinth w/ perilymph and membranous labyrinth w/ endolymph

25
Q

Vestibular -membranous labyrinth

A

Utricle (openings to semicircular canal)
And saccule
Semicircular canal - small openings at each end to utricle

26
Q

Vestibular - semicircular canals

A

Detect angular rotation of head (speed up or slow down rotation of head)

Canals are perpendicular to each other

27
Q

Three pairs of semicircular canals

A

Right and left anterior (45 deg ant to frontal plane)
Right and left posterior (45 deg pst to frontal plane)
Right and left horizontal (30 deg above horizontal plane)

28
Q

Semicircular Calais work together as coplanar pairs

A

RP and LA
RA and LP
R and L horizontal

29
Q

Ampulla

A

Bulge located at one of each semicircular canal
Hair cells in crystal ampullaris have cilia
Cilia of hair cells project up to cupula
Movement of endolymph causes cupula to bend
-results in deflection of cilia causing excitation or inhibitition of hair cells

30
Q

Hair cells convert displacement

A

Due to angular head rotation into neural firing and send axons into the vestibular nerve

31
Q

Each semicircular canal responds best

A

To motion in its own plane (w/ coplanar pairs responding to a shared plane)

32
Q

brain detects direction of head movement by comparing

A

input from coplanar pairs

When angular motion occurs w/in shared plane, each of the pairs produces reciprocal signals - excitatory from one w/ inhibitory from other.

Results in neural firing that will increase in one vestibular nerve and decrease in another

33
Q

During ipsilateral head rotations

A

Ipsilateral afferents are excited

34
Q

Otolith organ

A

Vestibular pathway
Calcium carbonate crystals embedded in top of gelatinous layer to give mass (shearing force w/ movement)
Respond to linear motion and static head tilt w/ respect to the gravitational axis

35
Q

Utricle

A

Vestibular pathways

Excitation occurs during horizontal linear motion and head tilt

36
Q

Saccule

A

Excitation occurs during vertical linear motion

37
Q

Macula

A

In utricle and saccule
Contain hair cells in gelatinous layer
Linear motion and head tilt cause otoconia to move and then gelatinous layer and hair cells move

38
Q

Hair cells convert

A

Displacement into neural firing and send axons into the vestibular nerve

39
Q

Vestibular nuclei

A

Have many connect w/ cerebrum, brainstem, motor systems, extraocular systems

Sends awareness of head position to parietal association cortex that is integrated w/ visual and tactile information to contribute to spatial awareness

40
Q

Vestibular nuclei adjust

A

Posture
Muscle tone
Eye position in response to movement of head in space

41
Q

Vestibular nuclei integrate

A

Information from multiple senses, acting as central processor

-primary processor of vestibular info

Assist w/ refining movement (numerous connection w/ cerebellum)

42
Q

Vestibular nuclie also receive

A

Visual
Proprioceptive
Tactile
Auditory info

43
Q

Vestibular nuclei lye

A

On lateral floor of 4th ventricle in pons and rostrum medulla

44
Q

Four vestibular nuclei

A

Lateral
Medial
Superior
Inferior

45
Q

Lateral vestibular nucleus

A

Gives rise to lateral vestibulospinal tract
Extends entire length of cord
*maintaining balance and extensor tone

46
Q

Medial vestibular nucleus

A

Largest
Gives rise to medial vestibulospinal tract (medial motor systems)
Extends to C spine
*controlling head and neck position

47
Q

Medial longitudinal fasciculus

A

Connect vestibular nuclei to oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nuclei

Fibers mainly from superior vestibular nucleus and inferior (ascends in MFL to CN III, IV, VI

48
Q

MLF function

A

Match eye movements resulting in conjugate gaze in all directions
Pathway mediates the vestibulo-ocular reflex in which eye movements are adjusted for changes in head position

49
Q

Vestibular info is sent mainly to

A

Flocculonodular lobes and vermis in cerebellum

Vestibulocerebellum

50
Q

Vestibular nuclei also send info to

A
  1. Lateral temporal junction and posterior insula - conscious perception of head position and movement
  2. CN XI nucleus - influence head position
  3. Reticular formation - influence reticulospinal (posture and gait) tracts and autonomic centers for nausea and vomiting
51
Q

Vertigo

A

Spinning sensation of movement
Suggestive of vestibular disease more than any other sensations

Most often from peripheral vestibular disorders (inner ear structures - CN VIII, SCCs, otolith)

52
Q

Vertigo - lesions

A

Anywhere along the vestibular pathway from labyrinth, CN VIII, vestibular nuclei, cerebellum, cortex

53
Q

Peripheral vestibular disorders w/ vertigo often accompanied by

A

Disequilibrium
Nystagmus
Nausea
Vomiting

54
Q

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)

A

Sudden changes in head position resulting in vertigo and nystagmus

Otoconia from nearby masculine dislodge and flat into a SCC

  • trauma or virus
  • at rest, otoconia settle in gravity dependent position in SCC
  • head moved quickly - otoconia move into new position in SCC causing abnormal movement of endolymph - causing abnormal signals in CV III

*acute onset of vertigo and nystagmus

55
Q

BPPV test and tax

A

Test w/ dix hallpike maneuver (PT rapidly but gently turns head so that one ear is down)

Treated w/ repositioning maneuvers

56
Q

Vestibular neuritis

A

Inflammation of vestibular nerve
Virus
Several days of intense vertigo, disequilibrium, nystagmus, nausea, symptoms subsiding over a few weeks
Meds during acute phase my suppress vertigo and N/V

57
Q

Ménière’s disease

A

Endolymphatic hydrops

  • excessive fluid and pressure in endolymph
  • recurrent intense vertigo along w/ fullness in ear w/ fluctuating hearing loss and tinnitus and N/V
  • meds during acute phase may suppress vertigo and N/V, w/ extreme cases vestibular nerve may be severed to relieve symptoms