Chapter 14 - Brain & Cranial Nerves (Cranial Nerves) Flashcards
Cranial Nerves
- 12 pairs in total
- May be sensory, motor, or mixed
- Part of the PNS (Sensory neuron cell bodies reside in PNS ganglia & motor neurons extend into PNS
- Concerned w/ head, neck & facial regions except Cranial Nerve 10 (Vagus)
12 Cranial Nerves + Mnemonic
- Olfactory
- Optic
- Oculomotor
- Trochlear
- Trigeminal
- Abducens
- Facial
- Vestibulochochlear
- Glossopharyngeal
- Vagus
- (Spinal )Accessory
- Hypoglossal
“Oh Once One Takes The Anatomy Final Very Good Vacations Start Happening”
Olfactory Nerve (Cranial Nerve 1)
- Sensory nerve
- Transmits nerve impulses from olfactory epithelium to primary olfactory area
Olfactory Receptors
- Bipolar neurons w/ a single odor-sensitive dendrite & long unmyelinated axon
- They pass through olfactory foramina & form right & left olfactory nerves
- The nerves synapse w/ 2nd order relay neurons in olfactory bulbs, their axons form the olfactory tracts of the primary olfactory area
Optic Nerve (Cranial Nerve 2)
- Sensory nerve
- Photorceptors stimulate 1st order bipolar sensory neurons, whose axons synape w/ ganglion cells; ganglion cell axons extend to Optic Nerve
- Optic Nerve joins at Optic Chiasm, where axons from medial retina dscussate to contralateral side, but axons from lateral retina remain ipsilateral
Optic Nerve Pathway
Ganglion cell axons -> Optic tracts -> Lateral geniculate nucleus of thalamus (Synapse w/ 3rd order relay neurons) -> Primary visual area (Occipital Lobe)
*Some axons -> superior colliculi & brain stem motor nuclei (Synapse w/ motor fibers) -> Eye muscles
Oculomotor Nerve (Cranial Nerve 3)
- Motor nerve (since only motor fibers are present where cranial nerve 3 leaves brainstem)
- Controls extrinsic eye muscles as well as intrinsic eye muscles (motor portion)
- Confrol of proprioceptors of 4 extrinsic eye muscles (sensory portion)
4 Extrinsic Eye Muscles Controlled by Oculomotor
- Superior Rectus (Elevation)
- Medial Rectus (Adduction)
- Inferior Rectus (Depression)
- Inferior Oblique (Extorsion)
Mesencephalic Nucleus of Trigeminal
- A unique sensory ganglion embedded in the brain during embryonic development
- Sensory portions of Cranial Nerves 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 have axons that carry proprioception info from their innervated muscles to the mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal (via the ophthalmic branch)
Trochlear Nerve (Cranial Nerve 4)
- Motor nerve
- Cranial nerve 4 fibers from trochlear nucleus decussate, projecting to superior oblique muscle muscle of contralateral eye
- Motor portion controls eyeball movement
Trigeminal Nerve (Cranial Nerve 5)
- Mixed nerve
- Has 3 Branches: ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular
Trigeminal Nerve (Motor Portion)
Motor neuron axons from trigeminal nucleus -> various effectors via cranial nerve 5
Trigeminal Nerve (Sensory Portion)
1st order unipolar sensory neurons’ cell bodies in trigeminal ganglion extend axons to trigeminal nucleus -> synapse w/ 2nd order relay neurons -> thalamus, synapse w/ 3rd order relay neurons that project to somatosensory cortex
*sensory axons carrying proprioception info -> mesencephalic nucleus of trigeminal
3 Functions of Trigeminal Motor Portion
- Innervate muscles of mastication (e.g., masseter, temporalis)
- Innervate muscles of roof & floor of oral cavity (e.g., tensor veli palatine)
- Innervate tensor tympani muscle (protection against eardrum damage during loud noises)
3 Functions of Trigeminal Sensory Portion
- In general, transmission of touch, pain, temperature &/ or muscle proprioception info
1. Ophthalmic Branch: From eyes, (outer) nose & forehead
2. Maxillary Branch: From (inner) nose, upper jaw & mouth
3. Mandibular Branch: From anterior tongue, lower teeth, skin of mandible, cheek & temple