Axonal organization of the peripheral efferent system in the frog labyrinth

The purpose of the present work is to investigate the distribution of the nerve fibres subserving efferent control in frog labyrinth. Following electrical stimulation of a twig of the isolated VIII nerve compound action potentials could be picked up from the others nervous twigs. Denervation experiments suggest that these compound potentials are sustained by efferent fibres which branch in the VIII nerve providing collaterals to otolith and canal organs. This axonal organization, therefore, enables single efferent neurones to control the activity arising from different types of labyrinthine receptors.