Dizziness, Vertigo, & Syncope

Question 1

Causes of “dizziness”?

Answer 1

Presyncope
Loss of balance, unsteadiness of gait
Vertigo
Double Vision
Psychological dissociative feelings
Vague sensations

Question 2

Causes of presyncope?

Answer 2

Orthostatic hypotension
Cardiac Problems (Decreased cardiac output)

Question 3

Gait imbalance in elderly –> neuronal loss due to aging or disease in networks the sub serve?

Answer 3

Cerebellar function
Vestibular function
Visual orientation
Peripheral nerve function
Motor strength
Frontal lobe apraxia
Basal ganglia
Arthritis and Pain
Inactivity and fear of falls

Question 4

“True” Vertigo?

Answer 4

Disease of the vestibular system (central and peripheral)
Illusion of movement (whirling, spinning, swaying)
Nystagmus
Often accompanied by nausea and vertigo

Question 5

How many degrees of freedom?

Answer 5

6

Question 6

Roll?

Answer 6

Rotation around x axis

Question 7

Yaw?

Answer 7

Rotation around z axis

Question 8

Pitch?

Answer 8

Rotation around y axis

Question 9

Translational motion?

Answer 9

Linear along x,y, and z

Question 10

Rotational motion?

Answer 10

Angular around x, y, and z

Question 11

What senses linear motion and effects of gravity?

Answer 11

Sacculus

Utricle

Question 12

What does the sacculus lie coplanar to?

Answer 12

Vertical axis

Question 13

What does the utricle lie coplanar to?

Answer 13

Horizontal axis

Question 14

What detects angular movements?

Answer 14

Semicircular canals

Question 15

What lies inside the semicircular canals? What do they do?

Answer 15

Ampulla –> detects rotational acceleration or deceleration within the plane of the canal

Question 16

What does the cupula do?

Answer 16

Transduces info from ampulla