Causes of Central Vertigo

Abstract

Central vertigo is vertigo that arises due to an abnormality in the central nervous system (CNS). Traditionally, and on some anatomic and functional grounds, the vestibular system and by implication the causes of vertigo have been divided into the central and peripheral subcategories. Peripheral causes of vertigo involve the semicircular canal and saccule/ utricle. Central causes of vertigo are primarily located in the brainstem and the 8th nerve. This is not surprising given the centrality of connections from the peripheral system that relay in the brainstem including postural control, eye movements, spinal reflexes, and the adjacent cerebellum with which it connects intimately.