There are 4 subnuclei; they are situated at the floor of the
fourth ventricleThe fourth ventricle is one of the four connected fluid-filled cavities within the human brain. These cavities, known collectively as the ventricular system, consist of the left and right lateral ventricles, the third ventricle, and the fourth ventricle...
.
- The medial vestibular nucleus
The medial vestibular nucleus is one of the vestibular nuclei. It is located in the medulla oblongata.Lateral vestibulo-spinal tract - via ventrolateral medulla and spinal cord to ventral funiculus �...
(dorsal or chief vestibular nucleus), corresponding to the lower part of the area acustica in the rhomboid fossaThe anterior part of the fourth ventricle is named, from its shape, the rhomboid fossa, and its anterior wall, formed by the back of the pons and medulla oblongata, constitutes the floor of the fourth ventricle....
; the caudal end of this nucleus is sometimes termed the descending or spinal vestibular nucleus.
- The lateral vestibular nucleus
The lateral vestibular nucleus is the continuation upward and lateralward of the principal nucleus, and in it terminate many of the ascending branches of the vestibular nerve.-Anatomy:...
or nucleus of Deiters, consisting of large cells and situated in the lateral angle of the rhomboid fossa; the dorso-lateral part of this nucleus is sometimes termed the nucleus of Bechterew.
- Modern sources also include a inferior vestibular nucleus
The inferior vestibular nucleus is the vestibular nucleus which lies near the fourth ventricle.-External links:* http://www.neuroanatomy.wisc.edu/virtualbrain/BrainStem/13VNAN.html* http://www.anatomyatlases.org/MicroscopicAnatomy/Section17/Plate17331.shtml...
and superior vestibular nucleusThe superior vestibular nucleus is the dorso-lateral part of the vestibular nucleus and receives collaterals and terminals from the ascending branches of the vestibular nerve....
The fibers of the vestibular nerve enter the
medulla oblongataThe medulla oblongata is the lower half of the brainstem. In discussions of neurology and similar contexts where no ambiguity will result, it is often referred to as simply the medulla...
on the medial side of those of the cochlear, and pass between the inferior peduncle and the spinal tract of the trigeminal.
They then divide into ascending and descending fibers.
Subnuclei
There are 4 subnuclei; they are situated at the floor of the
fourth ventricleThe fourth ventricle is one of the four connected fluid-filled cavities within the human brain. These cavities, known collectively as the ventricular system, consist of the left and right lateral ventricles, the third ventricle, and the fourth ventricle...
.
- The medial vestibular nucleus
The medial vestibular nucleus is one of the vestibular nuclei. It is located in the medulla oblongata.Lateral vestibulo-spinal tract - via ventrolateral medulla and spinal cord to ventral funiculus �...
(dorsal or chief vestibular nucleus), corresponding to the lower part of the area acustica in the rhomboid fossaThe anterior part of the fourth ventricle is named, from its shape, the rhomboid fossa, and its anterior wall, formed by the back of the pons and medulla oblongata, constitutes the floor of the fourth ventricle....
; the caudal end of this nucleus is sometimes termed the descending or spinal vestibular nucleus.
- The lateral vestibular nucleus
The lateral vestibular nucleus is the continuation upward and lateralward of the principal nucleus, and in it terminate many of the ascending branches of the vestibular nerve.-Anatomy:...
or nucleus of Deiters, consisting of large cells and situated in the lateral angle of the rhomboid fossa; the dorso-lateral part of this nucleus is sometimes termed the nucleus of Bechterew.
- Modern sources also include a inferior vestibular nucleus
The inferior vestibular nucleus is the vestibular nucleus which lies near the fourth ventricle.-External links:* http://www.neuroanatomy.wisc.edu/virtualbrain/BrainStem/13VNAN.html* http://www.anatomyatlases.org/MicroscopicAnatomy/Section17/Plate17331.shtml...
and superior vestibular nucleusThe superior vestibular nucleus is the dorso-lateral part of the vestibular nucleus and receives collaterals and terminals from the ascending branches of the vestibular nerve....
Path from medial and lateral nuclei
The fibers of the vestibular nerve enter the
medulla oblongataThe medulla oblongata is the lower half of the brainstem. In discussions of neurology and similar contexts where no ambiguity will result, it is often referred to as simply the medulla...
on the medial side of those of the cochlear, and pass between the inferior peduncle and the spinal tract of the trigeminal.
They then divide into ascending and descending fibers. The latter end by arborizing around the cells of the medial nucleus, which is situated in the area acustica of the
rhomboid fossaThe anterior part of the fourth ventricle is named, from its shape, the rhomboid fossa, and its anterior wall, formed by the back of the pons and medulla oblongata, constitutes the floor of the fourth ventricle....
. The ascending fibers either end in the same manner or in the
lateral nucleusLateral nucleus can refer to:* Lateral hypothalamus* Lateral vestibular nucleus...
, which is situated lateral to the area acustica and farther from the ventricular floor.
Some of the axons of the cells of the
lateral nucleusLateral nucleus can refer to:* Lateral hypothalamus* Lateral vestibular nucleus...
, and possibly also of the medial nucleus, are continued upward through the inferior peduncle to the roof nuclei of the opposite side of the
cerebellumThe cerebellum is a region of the brain that plays an important role in the integration of sensory perception, coordination and motor control...
, to which also other fibers of the vestibular root are prolonged without interruption in the nuclei of the medulla oblongata.
A second set of fibres from the medial and lateral nuclei end partly in the
tegmentumThe tegmentum is a general area within the brainstem. It is located between the ventricular system and distinctive basal or ventral structures at each level...
, while the remainder ascend in the medial longitudinal fasciculus to arborize around the cells of the nuclei of the
oculomotor nerveThe oculomotor nerve is the third of twelve paired cranial nerves. It controls most of the eye's movement, constriction of the pupil, and maintains an open eyelid. -Nuclei:...
.
Fibres from the lateral vestibular nucleus also pass via the
vestibulospinal tractThe vestibulospinal tract is one of the descending spinal tracts of the ventromedial pathway. It originates from the vestibular nuclei of the medulla, which conducts information from the vestibular labyrinth in the inner ear....
, to anterior horn cells at many levels in the spinal cord, in order to co-ordinate head and trunk movements.
External links
- http://www.lib.mcg.edu/edu/eshuphysio/program/section8/8ch6/s8ch6_29.htm
- Parkinson.org