Utricular nerve

Nervus utricularis

Definition

Utricular nerve is a neuronal branch which transmits sensory information from the (macula of the) utricle, which is part of the membranous labyrinth. These neural afferents run in the superior branch of vestibular nerve, along with sensory neurons from other components of membranous labyrinth, including the (ampullas of) lateral and anterior semicircular canals and superior part of the (macula of the) saccule.

All neurons in the superior branch of vestibular nerve end up in the superior division of vestibular ganglion.

References

Text written by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2022 IMAIOS.

  • Iwasaki, S., Chihara, Y., Smulders, Y.E., Burgess, A.M., Halmagyi, G.M., Curthoys, I.S. and Murofushi, T. (2009). The role of the superior vestibular nerve in generating ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials to bone conducted vibration at Fz. Clinical Neurophysiology, 120(3), pp.588-593 & Fig 1.

  • Himmelein, S., Lindemann, A., Sinicina, I., Horn, A.K.E., Brandt, T., Strupp, M. and Hüfner, K. (2017). Differential Involvement during Latent Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Infection of the Superior and Inferior Divisions of the Vestibular Ganglia: Implications for Vestibular Neuritis. Journal of Virology. 91(14), e00331-17. https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00331-17

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