The vestibular nuclei are four nuclei in the floor of the fourth ventricle that receive balance signals from the inner ear. They use these signals to keep the eyes steady when the head moves, to hold the body upright and to inform the brain about head position and motion.
| Location | Floor of the fourth ventricle beneath the vestibular area, spanning the lower pons and upper medulla |
|---|---|
| Parts |
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| Connections |
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| Blood Supply | Anterior inferior cerebellar artery; Posterior inferior cerebellar artery; Basilar artery branches |
Drive the vestibulo-ocular reflex to stabilise gaze, maintain posture and balance through the vestibulospinal tracts, and contribute to the sense of orientation.
Acute damage to the vestibular nuclei or nerve causes vertigo, nausea, nystagmus and unsteadiness. The HINTS bedside examination helps distinguish a dangerous central (brainstem or cerebellar) cause of acute vertigo from vestibular neuritis. Vestibular rehabilitation exercises use brain plasticity, largely involving these nuclei and the cerebellum, to compensate after injury.
Sudden vertigo with nystagmus and imbalance caused by infarction involving the vestibular nuclei, often in lateral medullary syndrome.
Inflammation of the vestibular nerve causing severe vertigo, after which the vestibular nuclei gradually rebalance activity between the two sides.
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