6 - Head & Neck - Cranial Nerves

Question 1

Which 3 cranial nerves are purely special sensory?

Answer 1

CN I (Olfactory)
CN II (Optic)
CN VIII (Vestibulocochlear)

Question 2

Which cranial nerves carry efferent autonomic fibres?

Answer 2

CN III
CN VII
CN IX
CN X

Question 3

Which cranial nerves are purely motor?

Answer 3

CN III
CN IV
CN VI
CN XI
CN XII

Question 4

Which cranial nerve supplies motor fibres to the ciliary muscles and the sphincter of the pupil?

Answer 4

CN III Oculomotor

Question 5

Which cranial nerve supplies motor fibres to the superior oblique muscle of the eye?

Answer 5

CN IV Trochlear

Question 6

Which cranial nerve supplies motor fibres to the lateral rectus muscle of the eye?

Answer 6

CN VI Abducens

Question 7

Which cranial nerve supplies motor fibres to the muscles of mastication?

Answer 7

CN V Trigeminal

Question 8

Which cranial nerve supplies motor fibres to the muscles of facial expression?

Answer 8

CN VII Facial

Question 9

Which cranial nerve supplies sensory fibres for hearing?

Answer 9

CN VIII Vestibulocochlear

Question 10

Which cranial nerve supplies general sensation to the pharynx, eustachian tube and middle ear cavity?

Answer 10

CN IX Glossopharyngeal

Question 11

Which cranial nerve supplies motor fibres to the larynx, trachea, bronchial tree, heart and most of GI tract?

Answer 11

CN X Vagus

Question 12

Which cranial nerve supplies motor fibres to Sternocleidomastoid?

Answer 12

CN XI Accessory

Question 13

Which cranial nerve supplies motor to all intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the tongue, except palatoglossus?

Answer 13

CN XII Hypoglossus

Question 14

What parts of the head/neck have sensory innervation from the Trigeminal nerve (CN V)?

Answer 14

• Face
• Sinuses
• Teeth

Question 15

A patient with a brainstem lesion in the pons may present with dysfunction of which cranial nerves?

Answer 15

CN V
CN VI
CN VII
CN VIII

Question 16

Which cranial nerves exit the skull via the Internal Acoustic Meatus?

Answer 16

CN VII

CN VIII

Question 17

Which cranial nerves exit the skull via the Superior Orbital Fissure?

Answer 17

CN III
CN IV
CN V1
CN VI

Question 18

Which cranial nerves exit the skull via the Jugular Foramen?

Answer 18

CN IX
CN X
CN XI

Question 19

Through which hole does CN XII (hypoglossus) exit the skull?

Answer 19

Hypoglossal canal

Question 20

Through which hole does CN V2 exit the skull?

Answer 20

Foramen rotundum

Question 21

Through which hole does CN V3 exit the skull?

Answer 21

Foramen ovale

Question 22

Which cranial nerves pass through the cavernous sinus?

Answer 22

CN III
CN IV
CN V1
CN V2
CN VI

Question 23

How may a cavernous sinus thrombosis present?

Answer 23

• Headache +/- Fever
• Periorbital oedema = exopthalmos (may affect sight)
• Ophthalmoplegia
• Diplopia
• Ptosis
• Mydriasis
• Pain/numbness around forehead/cheek

Question 24

What is mydriasis? Lesion of which cranial nerve will cause this?

Answer 24

Dilation of the pupil of the eye

CN III Oculomotor

Question 25

Why are CN I, II and XI considered unusual compared to the other cranial nerves?

Answer 25

CN I + II are direct continuations of the forebrain

CN XI contains fibres from the cervical spine

Question 26

Which cranial nerves originate from the midbrain?

Answer 26

CN III

CN IV

Question 27

Which cranial nerves originate from the pons?

Answer 27

CN V
CN VI
CN VII
CN VIII

Question 28

Which cranial nerves originate from the medulla?

Answer 28

CN IX
CN X
CN XI
CN XII

Question 29

Which cranial nerves pass into the orbit?

Answer 29

CN II
CN III
CN IV
CN V1
CN V2
CN VI

Question 30

What gland lies in the center of the cavernous sinus?

Answer 30

Pituitary gland