Cranial nerve disorders Flashcards
What are the twelve cranial nerves?
I – Olfactory (S)
II – Optic (S)
III – Oculomotor (M) IV – Trochlear (M)
V – Trigeminal (S/M) VI – Abducens (M)
VII – Facial (S/M)
VIII – Vestibulocochlear (S) IX – Glossopharyngeal (S/M) X – Vagus (S/M)
XI – Accessory (M)
XII – Hypoglossal (M)
What does cranial nerve 1 do?
- Smell perception.
- Olfactory receptor cells found in the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity
CN I passes through the cribiform plate of the ethmoid bone and continues to reach the cerebral cortex
Collateral fibres to amygdala and hippocampus
To be perceived as an odour an inhaled substance must be soluble in water
How do you test cranial nerve one?
Ask if any problems with smell
Use of an odorous object e.g. an orange, coffee to test each nostril
individually
Further investigation may involve CT/MRI brain or other appropriate neurological investigations
What pathology can occur with problems with CN1?
Anosmia ( loss of smell)
Dysosmia (smell alteration)
olfactory halucinations
What can cause anosmia?
Congenital absence of receptors – Kallman Syndrome, Albinism
Psychogenic (taste usually intact)
Nasal obstruction/rhinitis
Cribiform plate pathology – Head injury/skull fracture, Cranial surgery, SAH Central pathology – Tumours, Aneurysms, Meningitis, Sarcoidosis, MS
What can cause dysosmia?
Depression
Local nasopharyngeal conditions
What can cause olfactory halucinations?
Temporal lobe disease - Epilepsy (complex partial seizures)
Psychiatric disease – Depression, Schizophrenia
What can cause reduced odour recognition?
Alzeihmers
How does the visual pathway work?
Retinal nerve cells converge at the optic disc to form the optic nerve
At the optic chiasm lateral fibres continue in the ipsilateral optic tract, however medial fibres decussate (cross) into the contralateral optic tract
Fibres run to the visual cortex in the occipital lobe of the brain
What will occur with left optic nerve compression?
Defect on left side
1) What visual defects will occur with chiasm compressions from pituitory tumour?
2) What visual defects occur with a left cerbrovascular event?
1) bitemporal hemianopia
2) homonymous hemianopia
How do you test CN2?
Visual acuity – Snellen chart
Visual fields
Pupillary reflexes – (PERLA) (Note CN III involvement)
Light
Accommodation
Fundoscopy
What CN2 pathology is there?
Eye lesions – Cateracts, Glaucoma, Migraine, Vitreous haemorrhage, Infarction, Infection e.g. Choreoretinitis (CMV)
Optic nerve/chiasm/tract
Ischaemia – Giant cell arteritis, Thrombus /Embolism, Systemic hypotension, other
connective tissue disorders
Demyelination – MS (optic neuritis)
Pressure – Tumour –a pituitary adenoma in particular can cause pressure on the optic chiasm, Grave’s disease, Paget’s disease, Aneurysms
Raised intracranial pressure
Cranial nerves 3,4 6, what are their functions?
They are motor nerves that supply the extraocular muscles and elevators of the upper eyelid.
Muscle action is coordinated to give both rapid eye movements (saccades) and smooth pursuit eye movements. The cerebellum plays a role in this coordination.
What muscles move your eyes?
What muscles do CN3 (occulomotor) innervate?
All the muscles around the eye except Lateral rectus and superior oblique
What nerve supplies lateral rectus?
abducens
What nerve supplies superio oblique?
Trochlea nerve.
What pathology is associated with CN3,4,6?
Any pathology affecting the brainstem, cavernous sinus, superior orbital fissure
or orbit can cause dysfunction of these cranial nerves.
Nystagmus is a pattern of involuntary eye movement that can be physiological or pathological. Cerebellar and vestubular pathology often presents with nystagmus.
Ptosis is drooping of the upper eyelid. It may be seen in CN III lesions, stroke, myaesthenia gravis, muscular dystrophies and Horner’s syndrome.
Horner’s syndrome occurs when there is damage to the oculosympathetic pathway. It presents as unilateral ptosis, miosis and anhidrosis.
Most common presenting complaint is diplopia
What is cranial nerve5? What are the different branches and what do they innervate?
Trigeminal Nerve
Va) Opthalmic division- Innervates, scalp and forehead, cornea and nose (including corneal reflex)
Vb)Maxillary division
Sensation of skin over lower eyelid, cheek and upper jaw, midlateral nose and lateral part of
alar, upper lip, upper teeth and palate
Passes to the trigeminal ganglion via the foramen rotundum
Vc Mandibular division
Sensation of skin over temple, lower jaw (sparing the angle of the mandible C2/3 nerve roots),
lower lip, anterior tongue, lower teeth and floor of mouth
Motor supply to muscles of mastication
Enters/exits the skull via the foramen ovale