Geniculate fibers
Geniculate Fibers
Geniculate fibers (pronunciation: jeh-NICK-you-late FIE-burs) are a type of neural pathway in the human brain. They are involved in the transmission of sensory information, particularly related to hearing and balance.
Etymology
The term "geniculate" is derived from the Latin word geniculum, meaning "little knee". This is in reference to the characteristic bend or "knee" shape observed in these fibers.
Function
Geniculate fibers are part of the auditory pathway, carrying information from the cochlea of the inner ear to the brain. They are also involved in the vestibular system, which is responsible for maintaining balance and spatial orientation.
Anatomy
Geniculate fibers originate from the spiral ganglion cells in the cochlea. They then travel through the internal auditory meatus before synapsing in the cochlear nucleus of the brainstem.
Related Terms
- Neuron: A nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system.
- Synapse: The junction between two neurons where information is transmitted from one to another.
- Auditory nerve: The nerve that carries impulses from the inner ear to the brain, resulting in the perception of sound.
- Vestibular nerve: The nerve that carries sensory information about balance from the inner ear to the brain.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Geniculate fibers
- Wikipedia's article - Geniculate fibers
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