Cranial Nerve Nuclei and Internal Pathways

Question 1

What is the name of CN I?
Where are the nuclei?
What is the name of the tract?
What is at the end of the tract?
Where do the nerves exit the skull?
What are the modalities and innervations?

Answer 1

Olfactory nerve
Not in the brainstem
Olfactory tract (from olfactory stria)
Olfactory bulb
Cribriform plate
SVA - smell
*only CN NOT to go thru Thalamus*

Question 2

What is the name of CN II?
Where are the nuclei?
What is the cross called?
Where do the nerves exit the skull?
What are the modalities and innervations?

Answer 2

Optic nerve
Not in the brainstem
Optic chiasm
Optic canal
SSA - vision

Question 3

What is the name of CN III?
Where are the nuclei?
What are the names of the nuclei?
What are the modalities and innervations?
Where do the nerves exit the brainstem?

Answer 3

Oculomotor nerve
Rostral midbrain
Oculomotor nucleus: GSE - voluntary motor to eye (four muscles)
Edinger-Westphal nucleus: GVE - visceral motor (pupillary dilation)
Interpeduncular fossa

synapses at Ciliary Ganglion

Question 4

What is the name of CN IV?
Where are the nuclei?
What are the names of the nuclei?
What are the modalities and innervations?
Where do the nerves exit the brainstem?

Answer 4

Trochlear nerve
Caudal midbrain
Trochlear nuclei: GSE - voluntary motor to superior oblique
Dorsally; inferior to inferior colliculi –> only CN to exit on Dorsal part of brainstem

Question 5

What is the name of CN V and its divisions?
What are the names of the nuclei?
Where are the nuclei?
What are the modalities and innervations?
Where do the nerves exit the brainstem?
Where do the nerves exit the skull?

Answer 5

Trigeminal nerve - ophthalmic, maxillary and mandibular divisions

Motor nucleus of CN V (rostral pons): SVE/BE - voluntary motor to muscles of mastication

Main sensory nucleus of CN V (rostral pons): GSA - touch from face

Spinal nucleus of CN V (caudal pons, medulla, cervical spinal cord): GSA - pain from face

Mesencephalic nucleus of CN V (midbrain, rostral pons): GSA - proprioception from face

Midpons
CN V1 - superior orbital fissure
CN V2 - foramen rotundum
CN V3 - foramen ovale

Question 6

What is the name of CN VII?
What are the names of the nuclei?
Where are the nuclei?
What are the modalities and innervations?
Where do the nerves exit the brainstem?
Where do the nerves exit the skull?

Answer 6

Facial nerve
Facial nuclei (caudal pons): SVE/BE - voluntary motor to muscles of facial expression

Superior salivatory nuclei (caudal pons): GVE - visceral motor

Nucleus solitarius (caudal pons, medulla): SVA - taste from anterior 2/3 of tongue, GVA - visceral afferent

Main sensory nuclei of CN V (rostral pons): GSA - touch from face

Spinal nuclei of CN V (caudal pons, medulla, cervical spinal cord): GSA - pain from face

Medial cerebellopontine angle
Internal auditory canal

Question 7

What is the name of CN VIII?
What are the names of the nuclei?
Where are the nuclei?
What are the modalities and innervations?
Where do the nerves exit the brainstem?
Where do the nerves exit the skull?

Answer 7

Vestibulocochlear nerve

Vestibular nuclei (medulla): SSA - balance and equilibrium

Cochlear nuclei (medulla): SSA - hearing

Lateral cerebellopontine angle
Internal auditory canal

Question 8

What is the name of CN IX?
What are the names of the nuclei?
Where are the nuclei?
What are the modalities and innervations?
Where do the nerves exit the brainstem?
Where do the nerves exit the skull?

Answer 8

Glossopharyngeal nerve

Nucleus solitarius (caudal pons, medulla): SVA - taste from posterior 1/3 of tongue, GVA - visceral afferent

Nucleus ambiguus (medulla): SVE/BE - voluntary motor to stylopharyngeus

Inferior salivatory nuclei (rostral medulla): GVE - visceral motor

Main sensory nuclei of CN V (rostral pons): GSA - touch from face

Spinal nuclei of CN V (caudal pons, medulla, cervical spinal cord): GSA - pain from face

Lateral to pyramid
Jugular foramen

Question 9

What is the name of CN X?
What are the names of the nuclei?
Where are the nuclei?
What are the modalities and innervations?
Where do the nerves exit the brainstem?
Where do the nerves exit the skull?

Answer 9

Vagus nerve
Dorsal motor nucleus of CN X (medulla): GVE - viscera of abdomen

Nucleus solitarius (caudal pons, medulla): SVA - taste from epiglottis, GVA - visceral afferent

Nucleus ambiguus (medulla): SVE/BE - voluntary motor to muscles of the larynx, pharynx

Main sensory nuclei of CN V (rostral pons): GSA - touch from face

Spinal nuclei of CN V (caudal pons, medulla, cervical spinal cord): GSA - pain from face

Lateral to pyramid
Jugular foramen

Question 10

What is the name of CN XI?
What are the names of the nuclei?
Where are the nuclei?
What are the modalities and innervations?
Where do the nerves exit the brainstem?
Where do the nerves exit the skull?

Answer 10

Accessory spinal nerve
Accessory spinal nuclei
Cervical spinal cord
SVE/BE - voluntary motor to SCM, trapezius
Cervical spinal cord
Jugular foramen

Question 11

What is the name of CN XII?
What are the names of the nuclei?
Where are the nuclei?
What are the modalities and innervations?
Where do the nerves exit the brainstem?
Where do the nerves exit the skull?

Answer 11

Hypoglossal nerve
Hypoglossal nuclei
Medulla
GSE - voluntary motor to tongue
Between olive and pyramid
Hypoglossal canal