Dictionary of Biological Psychology
The vestibular complex is a term used to describe the vestibular nucleus in the MEDULLA OBLONGATA, and its connections. Sensory information for the vestibular complex is collected from HAIR CELLS in the vestibular labyrinth by neurons in the VESTIBULAR GANGLION (also known as SCARPA’S GANGLION). There are approximately 20000 bipolar neurons per ganglion: they connect to hair cells (recruiting information) and to nuclei in the BRAINSTEM (sending information centrally).
The vestibular ganglion is divided into two portions: the superior division (connected to the UTRICLE) and the inferior division (connected to the SACCULE and AMPULLA). Axons from the ganglion join the VESTIBULAR NERVE, a branch of the VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR NERVE (the eighth cranial nerve) to innervate the VESTIBULAR NUCLEUS.
See also: vestibular system
Reference
Kandel E.R., Schwartz J.H. & Jessell T.M. (2000) Prindples of Neural Science, 3rd edn, McGraw-Hill: New York.
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