vestibular system Flashcards
(18 cards)
what are the three parts of the vestibular system ?
1- three semicircular canals that re filled with endolymph - these respond to head movement
2- urticle and saccule (otolith organs) - these respond to forward and backwards movement
what is the path for the vestibular nerve signals ?
vestibulocochlear nerve
vestibular nerve
vestibular nuclei
what is vestibular dysfunctiion asociated with ?
nystagmus
vertigo
nausea and vomiting
what are the different types of nystagmus associated with ?
left, right torsional nystagmus is associated with peripheral vestibular dysfunction
upbeat and downbeat nystagmus is associated with central vestibular dysfunction
what are the causes of peripheral vertigo ?
usually all peripheral causes are benign , we worry more about the central causes
benign positional vertigo
vestibular neuritis
menieres disease
what are the central causes of vertigo ?
brainstem disease
TIA
tumor of the posterior fossa
what are the clinical features of central vertigo ?
upbeat or downbeat nystagmus
positional testing : immediate nystagmus
skew deviation
diplopia
dysmetria
what are the clinical signs associated with peripheral vertigo ?
horizontal nystagmus ( left to right)
normal proprioception
everything else is normal
positional testing : delayed nystagmus
what is the dix-hallpike maneuver ?
this is the positional testing for vertigo
used to diagnose Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
what is the treatment for BPPV ?
epley’s maneuver
what is the typical presentation of BPPV ?
brief episodes of vertigo usually 30-60 seconds usually associated with vomiting
what is the cause of BPPV ?
due to calcium debris in semicircular canals - otoconia
what is vestibular neuritis ?
inflammation of CN 8 following a viral infection , benign and self limiting
what is meniere’s disease?
endolymph accumulation in the inner ear
what is the difference between vestibular neuritis and labrynthitis ?
both are associated with viral infection labrynthitis is associated of inflammation of both the vestibular and the cochlear nerve
labrynthitis is also associated with tinnitus and an abnormal light reflex
what is the triad for meniere’s disease ?
vertigo
SNHL
asymmetric tinnitus
what is the treatment for menieres disease ?
salt restriction
avoid caffiene and vasodilators
diuretics may be used
what type of hearing loss is associated with menieres disease ?
SNHL which is associated with loss of low frequency sounds first
