Cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) are recorded from the sternocleidomastoid muscle and assess the integrity of which vestibular end-organ?
- A Utricle
- B Horizontal semicircular canal
- C Saccule and inferior vestibular nerve ✓
- D Superior semicircular canal
Correct answer: C. Saccule and inferior vestibular nerve
Explanation
Cervical VEMPs (cVEMPs) assess the saccule-inferior vestibular nerve-vestibulocollic reflex pathway. Sound stimulation activates saccular hair cells, which project via the inferior vestibular nerve to inhibit ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid muscle tone. Ocular VEMPs (oVEMPs) assess the utricle-superior vestibular nerve pathway. cVEMPs are particularly useful in diagnosing superior semicircular canal dehiscence (enhanced amplitude) and vestibular neuritis (inferior branch).
Reference: Dhingra Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 7th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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