4430 neurophys exam 2 pt 4 vestibular sense

vestibular sense

sense f balance (gravity /tilt) and our heads linear rotational movement

vestibular labyrinth

-responsible for our vestibular sense
-close to and similar function to the cochlea
-converts mechanical energy from head motion to a neural signal

otolith organs

detect head angle and linear acceleration

movement or tilt of the head causes

otocania to shift in a particular direction

what causes the otocania to shift

movement or tilt of the head

when do the hair cells depolarize

when they bend

hair cells are arranged according to

angle of displacement

how are the hair cells sensitive to a range of different angles of movement

how they are arranged

the 3 semicircular cancels detect

rotational movement

semicircular canals are arranged

orthogonally (at right angles)

the endolymph inside the semicircular canals

does not move because of inertia which causes the hair cells to bend

the vestibular system on each side of the head

work together

movement in any directions causes

excitement on one side of the head and inhibition on the other

firing rate responds to

change in acceleration

if ration continues at constant speed

firing rate returns to baseline level

vestibular system is closely linked to

sensory motor system

the vestibular system being linked with the sensory motor system

allows the body to detect its own movement and which ones are not

the vestibular system has

a direct, reflexive connection with the eye and triggers muscles around the eye to move in the opposite direction of head movement

vestibulo-ocular reflex

ability to maintain constant fixation on an object, even when our head is moving