[UW Anatomy | Contents]


[TOC | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12a | 12b | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 ]

Point: 13a. Vestibular Nuclei-Reflex Control of Head/Body

Function:
Reflex control of the head and body via pathways that convey information from receptors in the three pairs of semicircular canals and the saccule and utricle to the spinal cord.

Pathway:
Peripheral processes of cells in vest. ganglion end on hair cells in the receptors. Central processes comprise the vestibular nerve which terminates in the four vest. nuc. (lie in rost. medulla and pons; important nuclei to identify in sections=inferior and medial [level #4]). Neurons in lat. vest. nuc. project to IPSI. spinal cord via LAT. vestibulospinal tract (L.V.S.T.; vent. funic.). Cells in med. vest. nuc. project to BOTH sides (contra. is bigger) of spinal cord via MED. vestibulospinal tract (M.V.S.T.; vent. funic.).

Deficits:
Lesion of vestibular nuc. or nerve = IPSI. stumbling and falling. That is, you stumble TOWARD the lesion, since the normal side is OK and kind of PUSHING you toward the weak (lesion) side.

Other Note:
THE ASSOCIATION OF THE VEST. NUC. WITH THE ABDUCENS (EYE MOVEMENTS) IS COVERED IN 12b.


Last Modified: March 7, 1995

Maintained by: neuro714@macc.wisc.edu