Morphology Of The Vestibular Nerve: I. Anatomical Studies Of The Vestibular Nerve In Man

The intratemporal portion of the vestibular nerve in man has been studied with regard to its gross and topographical anatomy. The study includes a light microscope investigation of the vestibular ganglion and She preganglionic parts of the vestibular nerve. The form and structure of the vestibular ganglion are described as well as the interrelation of ganglion cells and nerve branches. It was found that there is one ganglion composed of two major cell groups connected by a narrow isthmus. It was also found that in nearly all of the nerve specimens examined the posterior ampulla was innervated by two nerve branches. The present investigation is part of a major study of the vestibular nerve. It provides the basis for further detailed studies of the vestibular nerve branches regarding the number of nerve fibers and the caliber spectra in the different branches.