Cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) tests the integrity of which vestibular end organ and neural pathway?

• A Saccule → inferior vestibular nerve → vestibulospinal tract → ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid muscle ✓
• B Utricle → superior vestibular nerve → superior olivary complex
• C Horizontal semicircular canal → superior vestibular nerve → medial vestibulospinal tract
• D Posterior semicircular canal → inferior vestibular nerve → inferior oblique muscle

Explanation

cVEMP is an inhibitory myogenic potential recorded from the ipsilateral tonically contracted sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle in response to loud sound or vibration. It tests the saccule (otolithic organ sensitive to vertical linear acceleration and loud sounds) → inferior vestibular nerve → lateral vestibulospinal tract → anterior horn cells of SCM. Absent or asymmetric cVEMP helps diagnose superior semicircular canal dehiscence, vestibular neuritis (inferior nerve), Meniere's disease, and acoustic neuroma affecting the inferior vestibular nerve.

Reference: Dhingra Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 7th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.