Educational Lecture : Essential knowledge for best practice of vertigo related to central nervous system
Anatomy and Physiology of the Central Vestibular System
2022 Volume 81 Issue 2 Pages 33-45
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2022 Volume 81 Issue 2 Pages 33-45
Understanding the anatomy and physiology of the central vestibular system is indispensable for understanding the pathophysiology of vertigo and body disequilibrium, and for proper diagnosis of patients with vestibular symptoms. This article first describes the location and classification of the vestibular nuclear complex, together with the principle of the arterial blood supply in the brainstem. Then, the characteristics of the eye movements caused by the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) are summarized, and the neural circuits underlying the VOR are briefly explained. Finally, the neural mechanism underlying the generation of the slow phase of vestibular nystagmus is discussed in relation to the pathophysiology of vertigo caused by peripheral vestibular diseases.
