Structure and Function of the Vestibular Nerve
- The vestibular nerve is a branch of the vestibulocochlear nerve.
- It transmits sensory information from vestibular hair cells in the otolith organs and semicircular canals.
- Axons of the vestibular nerve synapse in the vestibular nucleus.
- It arises from bipolar cells in the vestibular ganglion.
- The peripheral fibers divide into three branches: superior, inferior, and posterior.
- The primary role of the vestibular nerve is to transform vestibular information into an egocentric frame of reference.
- It updates the frame of reference of motor movement based on the orientation of the head.
- The response magnitude of alteration to motor coordinates is reduced during head motion compared to when the head is fixated.
- It is essential for maintaining balance control, spatial memory, and spatial navigation.
- Damage to the vestibular nerve can cause acute attacks of vertigo, nausea/vomiting, and difficulty maintaining posture.
Clinical Significance of Damage to the Vestibular Nerve
- Common causes of damage to the vestibular nerve include exposure to ototoxic antibiotics, Ménière's disease, encephalitis, and autoimmune disorders.
- Damage to the vestibular nerve can lead to unstable blood pressure during movement.
- It affects balance control, spatial memory, and spatial navigation.
- Symptoms of a damaged vestibular nerve include acute vertigo attacks, nausea/vomiting, and horizontal nystagmus.
- Rapid compensation to vestibular nerve damage can occur within seven to ten days, but some patients may experience recurrent symptoms.
Rehabilitation for Damage to the Vestibular Nerve
- Vestibular compensation can be accelerated by administering betahistine over a long period of time.
- Physical therapy can help patients learn strategies to recover their balance.
- Some patients with damage to the vestibular nerve may not undergo vestibular compensation and experience long-term attacks of vertigo.
- Rehabilitation is important to alleviate symptoms and improve balance.
- Recurrent symptoms can be managed through a combination of medication and therapy.
Related Concepts and Resources
- The vestibular system is closely related to the vestibular nerve.
- Anatomical terminology is used in this article.
- Additional images of otolith organs can provide visual references.
- Grays Anatomy (1918) incorporates text in the public domain.
- Other references and resources on vestibular system anatomy and compensation are available.
Vestibular Nerve and Blood Pressure
- Damage to the vestibular nerve can lead to unstable blood pressure during movement.
The vestibular nerve is one of the two branches of the vestibulocochlear nerve (the cochlear nerve being the other). In humans the vestibular nerve transmits sensory information transmitted by vestibular hair cells located in the two otolith organs (the utricle and the saccule) and the three semicircular canals via the vestibular ganglion of Scarpa. Information from the otolith organs reflects gravity and linear accelerations of the head. Information from the semicircular canals reflects rotational movement of the head. Both are necessary for the sensation of body position and gaze stability in relation to a moving environment.
| Vestibular nerve | |
|---|---|
 Inner ear illustration showing semicircular canal, hair cells, ampulla, cupula, vestibular nerve, & fluid | |
 Terminal nuclei of the vestibular nerve, with their upper connections. (Schematic.)
| |
| Details | |
| From | Vestibulocochlear nerve |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | Nervus vestibularis |
| MeSH | D014725 |
| TA98 | A14.2.01.122 |
| TA2 | 6308 |
| FMA | 53401 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
Axons of the vestibular nerve synapse in the vestibular nucleus are found on the lateral floor and wall of the fourth ventricle in the pons and medulla.
It arises from bipolar cells in the vestibular ganglion which is situated in the upper part of the outer end of the internal auditory meatus.
vestibular nerve (plural vestibular nerves)
