#10. Cranial Nerves Flashcards
Are the cranial nerves part of the PNS or the CNS?
PNS
List the route of the olfactory nerve from periphery to central
olfactory receptors in the olfactory epithelium –olfactory nerve – olfactory foramina in the cribriform plate – olfactory bulbs – olfactory tracts – primary olfactory area (28), limbic system and hypothalamus – frontal lobe (11)
Define anosmia
-loss of sense of smell
How does anosmia occur?
from infections of nasal mucosa, head injuries, lesions along olfactory pathway, meningitis, smoking, cocaine use
Define hyposmia
decreased sense of smell
Define hyperosmia
increased sense of smell
Where is the olfactory nerve?
- superior part of nasal cavity
- inferior surface of the cribriform plate
- along the superior nasal concha
What is the route of the Optic nerve from periphery to central?
rods and cones – optic nerves – optic foramen – optic chaism – optic tract (a few axons exit and go to the superior colliculi) – lateral geniculate nucleus – 1 degree visual area
Where is the optic chiasm?
in the sella turcica
What is the process in which light is translated and sent to the optic nerve?
light travels through the blood vessels, ganglion cells, and bipolar cells to get the the rods and cones on the back of the retina. the rods and cones then translate the light into electrical signals and pass that signal to the bipolar cells. the bipolar cells pass the signal on to the ganglion cells and the axons of the ganglion cells leave the retina as the optic nerve
What are the three layers of the retinal neurons?
ganglion cells, bipolar cells and rods/cones
What is the purpose of photoreceptors?
to start the process of converting light rays to nerve impulses
What is the location of cones on the retina?
concentrated in the center of the retina
What stimulates cones?
bright light
What is the acuity of cones?
high
Do cones see black/white/grey or in color?
Cones see in color. Rods see in black/white/grey
What is the location of rods on the retina?
concentrated in the periphery
What is the significance of rods?
they allow us to see in dim light
What is the acuity of rods?
low
Define acuity
resolution
Why do we have blind spots?
the blind spot is created due to the optic nerve exiting the eye
Define anopia
blindness due to a defect or loss of 1 or 2 eyes
What causes anopia?
from fractures in the orbit, brain lesions, damage along pathway, disease of the nervous system, pituitary gland tumours, cerebral aneurysm
Which extrinsic eye muscle makes you look down and out?
the superior oblique
Which extrinsic eye muscle makes you look up and out?
the inferior oblique
Which cranial nerve innervates the superior oblique?
CN IV trochlear
Which cranial nerve innervates the lateral recuts?
CN VI abducens
What does CN III innervate?
medial recuts, superior rectus, inferior rectus, inferior oblique, levator palpebrae suerioris
What is the route of the motor part of the oculomotor nerve starting from the nucleus in the midbrain?
nucleus - superior orbital fissure - superior branch and inferior branch.
superior branch innervates superior rectus and levator palpebrae suerioris.
inferior branch innervates medial rectus, inferior rectus, and inferior oblique.
What is the route of the autonomic portion of the oculomotor nerve starting from the nucleus in the midbrain?
motor nucleus - superior orbital fissure - inferior branch - ciliary ganglion - splits to innervate the ciliary muscle and the circular muscle of the iris
What does the ciliary muscle do?
- changes the shape of the lens for near vision. “accomodation”
- makes the lens fatter
What does the circular muscle of the iris do?
- changes the shape of the pupil
- contraction = smaller pupil
What nerves move the eye?
oculomotor, trochlear and abducens
What are is the significance of CN IV?
- smallest cranial nerve
- the only one that arises from the back of the brainstem
What is the route of the trochlear nerve starting at the nucleus?
trochlear nucleus in midbrain - superior orbital fissure - superior oblique muscle of eyeball
What is the route of CN VI starting at the nucleus?
abducens nucleus - superior orbital fissure - lateral rectus muscle
What happens if the oculomotor nerve is damaged?
- strabismus
- ptosis
- dilation of pupil
- mvmt of eyeball downward and outward on damaged side
- loss of accommodation for near vision
- diplopia
What is strabismus?
- lazy eye
- a condition in which both eyes do not fix on the same object, since one or both eyes may turn inward or outward