Does my patient have central or peripheral vestibular disease?

The vestibular system is responsible for maintaining balance.1 It coordinates movement of the head, eyes, and body so that they work together to oppose gravity and maintain correct posture. The vestibular system is composed of a peripheral portion and a central portion.2 The peripheral portion is made up of the receptor organs and an afferent cranial nerve (CN VIII) that conveys information to the brain stem. The central portion is comprised of several brainstem nuclei and processing centers and vestibular portions of the cerebellum.

Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - May 1, 2018 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Heidi Barnes Hellerdvm Source Type: research