The Vestibular System Exam Questions and Answers Solved 100% Latest Update 2025-2026
What is the function of the vestibular system? - Answers Vestibular sensation provides information to
the CNS about movement and position of the head in space.
What are two main purposes of the information that is provided by the vistubular system? - Answers
The purpose of this information provided by the vestibular system is
(1) Conscious perception of head movement and position
(2)Reflexive control of:
• Posture and balance
• Head Position - keep
• Eye-head
• Autonomic Centers in brainstem
What do we gain by reflex control of the head and body by the vestibular system - Answers Reflexive
control of:
• Posture and balance - by adjusting body muscles
• Head Position - keep head upright on shoulders
• Eye-head coordination - keep eyes fixed on visual targets (vestibulo-ocular reflex)
The vestibular system is princibly a _______ system with ________ as a pathway that is less important -
Answers Principally a REFLEXIVE system with a conscious pathway of lesser importance
What components make up the inner ear? - Answers Inner ear (labyrinth) is made up of bony and
membranous portions.
What secretes the membranous labyrinth?
What fills the space between teh membranous labyrinth and bone? - Answers Membranous labyrinth is
filled with endolymph secreted by specialized areas of the epithelium;
perilymph fills the space between the membranous labyrinth and bone
, What two vestibular organs are contained in the membranous labyrinth? - Answers Membranous
labyrinth contains 2 types of vestibular organs: 1) semicircular canals and 2) utricle and saccule.
What is the role of the semicircular canal?
What is the name of the of the sensory areas of the semicircular canals? Where are they located in the
canal? - Answers Semicircular canals transduce kinetic responses (angular acceleration of the head).
Semicircular canals contain sensory areas in a widened portion of the canal (ampulla) known as the
Crista Ampullares.
What are the hair cells in the crista made out of? Where do they project into? - Answers Hair cells in the
crista contain stereocilia that project into a gelatinous covering called the cupula.
What does the movement of the the head do to the cupula and what effect does this have? - Answers
Movement of the head causes bending of the cupula and therefore bending of the stereocilia, which
influence the membrane potential of these hair cells.
What do the utricle and the saccule do each do?
What do they each contain? - Answers The utricle and saccule transduce both kinetic (linear
acceleration) and static (simple position of the head) responses.
The utricle and saccule both contain a sensory area known as the macula.
What is contained in the macula? What are they made up of? - Answers Hair cells in the macula contain
stereocilia.
The hair cells in the macula project where?
What affect does this have? - Answers They project into a gelatinous, particle-filled covering known as
the otolithic membrane.
This membrane is affected by both movement of the head and gravity , which influence the membrane
potential of hair cells in the macula.
What is the function of the vestibular system? - Answers Vestibular sensation provides information to
the CNS about movement and position of the head in space.
What are two main purposes of the information that is provided by the vistubular system? - Answers
The purpose of this information provided by the vestibular system is
(1) Conscious perception of head movement and position
(2)Reflexive control of:
• Posture and balance
• Head Position - keep
• Eye-head
• Autonomic Centers in brainstem
What do we gain by reflex control of the head and body by the vestibular system - Answers Reflexive
control of:
• Posture and balance - by adjusting body muscles
• Head Position - keep head upright on shoulders
• Eye-head coordination - keep eyes fixed on visual targets (vestibulo-ocular reflex)
The vestibular system is princibly a _______ system with ________ as a pathway that is less important -
Answers Principally a REFLEXIVE system with a conscious pathway of lesser importance
What components make up the inner ear? - Answers Inner ear (labyrinth) is made up of bony and
membranous portions.
What secretes the membranous labyrinth?
What fills the space between teh membranous labyrinth and bone? - Answers Membranous labyrinth is
filled with endolymph secreted by specialized areas of the epithelium;
perilymph fills the space between the membranous labyrinth and bone
, What two vestibular organs are contained in the membranous labyrinth? - Answers Membranous
labyrinth contains 2 types of vestibular organs: 1) semicircular canals and 2) utricle and saccule.
What is the role of the semicircular canal?
What is the name of the of the sensory areas of the semicircular canals? Where are they located in the
canal? - Answers Semicircular canals transduce kinetic responses (angular acceleration of the head).
Semicircular canals contain sensory areas in a widened portion of the canal (ampulla) known as the
Crista Ampullares.
What are the hair cells in the crista made out of? Where do they project into? - Answers Hair cells in the
crista contain stereocilia that project into a gelatinous covering called the cupula.
What does the movement of the the head do to the cupula and what effect does this have? - Answers
Movement of the head causes bending of the cupula and therefore bending of the stereocilia, which
influence the membrane potential of these hair cells.
What do the utricle and the saccule do each do?
What do they each contain? - Answers The utricle and saccule transduce both kinetic (linear
acceleration) and static (simple position of the head) responses.
The utricle and saccule both contain a sensory area known as the macula.
What is contained in the macula? What are they made up of? - Answers Hair cells in the macula contain
stereocilia.
The hair cells in the macula project where?
What affect does this have? - Answers They project into a gelatinous, particle-filled covering known as
the otolithic membrane.
This membrane is affected by both movement of the head and gravity , which influence the membrane
potential of hair cells in the macula.
