Cranial Nerve X

Question 0

What is the most important parasympathetic nerve?

Answer 0

Vagus

Question 1

The vagus nerve carries what kind of fibers?

Answer 1

Motor, parasympathetic, sensory, and some taste from the epiglottal region

Question 2

What is the longest cranial nerve?

Answer 2

Cranial nerve X

Question 3

What does “vagus” mean?

Answer 3

Wandering

Question 4

The cell bodies of the motor fibers of cranial nerve X are located in what nucleus?

Answer 4

Nucleus ambiguus

Question 5

From where does the nucleus ambiguus receive information?

Answer 5

Both cerebral hemispheres

Question 6

Preganglionic parasympathetic fibers of cranial nerve X arise from what location?

Answer 6

Posterior (dorsal) nucleus of the vagus

Question 7

The posterior (dorsal) nucleus of vagus receives (parasympathetic) information from what locations?

Answer 7

Indirectly from the hypothalamus and the carotid sinus

Question 8

Incoming somatosensory information of cranial nerve X terminates in what location?

Answer 8

Spinal nucleus of cranial nerve V

Question 9

Taste and viscerosensory information of cranial nerve X terminates in what location?

Answer 9

Solitary nucleus (superior part for taste, inferior part for viscerosensory)

Question 10

What are the two peripheral ganglia associated with cranial nerve X?

Answer 10

Superior and inferior ganglia (not the same as for cranial nerve IX)

Question 11

What is another name for the superior ganglion of cranial nerve X?

Answer 11

Jugular ganglion

Question 12

What is another name for the inferior ganglion of cranial nerve X?

Answer 12

Nodose ganglion

Question 13

Where are the cell bodies located for cranial nerve X’s neurons of somatic sensory information?

Answer 13

Superior ganglion

Question 14

Somatic sensory information of cranial nerve X comes from what locations?

Answer 14

Dura of the infratentorial/posterior fossa, auricle, external auditory canal, lateral tympanic membrane, mucosa of the oropharynx and laryngopharynx

Question 15

The vagus nerve carries viscerosensory information from what areas?

Answer 15

Larynx and laryngopharynx, viscera in the thoracic and abdominal cavities, pressure receptors in the aortic arch, and chemoreceptors in the para-aortic body

Question 16

What is the apparent origin of the vagus nerve?

Answer 16

Lateral aspect of the medulla oblongata as a series of rootlets (just inferior to the apparent origin of cranial nerve IX)

Question 17

When do the rootlets of the vagus nerve combine to form a trunk?

Answer 17

Before it exits the skull through the jugular foramen

Question 18

What branch of the vagus nerve supplies the dura of the posterior cranial fossa/infratentorial cranial fossa?

Answer 18

Meningeal branch

Question 19

In the jugular foramen, what nerves travel anterior to its fibrous septum?

Answer 19

Vagus and accessory (X and XI)

Question 20

In the jugular foramen, what nerves travel posterior to its fibrous septum?

Answer 20

Glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX)

Question 21

What is unique about cranial nerves X and XI as they pass through the jugular foramen?

Answer 21

They share a meningeal sheath covering them made of arachnoid and dura

Question 22

How many cranial nerves pass through the jugular foramen?

Answer 22

3 total (IX, X, XI)

Question 23

The auricular branch is given off at what ganglion of the vagus nerve?

Answer 23

Superior ganglion

Question 24

The auricular branch of the vagus nerve passes through what openings to get to the external auditory meatus?

Answer 24

Mastoid canaliculus and tympanomastoid fissure

Question 25

The auricular branch carries sensory information from what locations?

Answer 25

External auditory meatus and a small portion of the auricle

Question 26

Where is the superior ganglion of the vagus nerve located?

Answer 26

In the jugular foramen

Question 27

Where is the inferior ganglion of the vagus nerve located?

Answer 27

Just inferior to the jugular foramen

Question 28

How is the inferior ganglion of the vagus nerve morphologically different from the superior ganglion?

Answer 28

Larger and more cylindrically shaped

Question 29

After exiting the jugular foramen, what does the vagus nerve travel within and what two structures does it travel in between in its pathway prior to the carotid bifurcation?

Answer 29

Inferiorly within the carotid sheath between the internal carotid artery and the internal jugular vein

Question 30

Inferior to the carotid bifurcation, in between what structures does the vagus nerve travel?

Answer 30

Internal jugular vein and common carotid artery

Question 31

The pharyngeal branch leaves the vagus nerve at which ganglion?

Answer 31

At the level of the inferior ganglion

Question 32

What forms the pharyngeal plexus?

Answer 32

Pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve, fibers from the glossopharyngeal nerve and sympathetic fibers from the sympathetic trunk

Question 33

Vagal fibers of the pharyngeal branch provide motor supply to what muscles?

Answer 33

Pharyngeal constrictor muscles and the levator veli palatine muscle of the soft palate

Question 34

The muscles supplied by the vagus nerve are derived from what embryologic structures?

Answer 34

Branchial arches

Question 35

Branches to the carotid artery of the vagus nerve are given off at what ganglion?

Answer 35

Inferior

Question 36

What are the two branches of the superior laryngeal nerve (from the vagus nerve)?

Answer 36

External and internal laryngeal nerves

Question 37

What muscle is supplied by the external laryngeal nerve?

Answer 37

Cricothyroid muscle

Question 38

What does the internal laryngeal nerve supply?

Answer 38

Sensory information from the laryngeal mucosa as far inferior as the vocal cords

Question 39

Where is the superior laryngeal nerve of the vagus nerve given off?

Answer 39

Just inferior to the inferior ganglion

Question 40

What is the motor supply of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (branch of the vagus)?

Answer 40

All of the muscles of the larynx except for cricothyroid

Question 41

Where would the cell bodies of the sensory fibers of the internal laryngeal nerve be located?

Answer 41

Superior ganglion

Question 42

Where would the sensory fibers of the internal laryngeal nerve terminate?

Answer 42

Spinal nucleus of cranial nerve V

Question 43

What is the action of the cricothyroid muscle?

Answer 43

Tighten and elongate the vocal cords results in higher voice pitches

Question 44

What is the action of thyroarytenoid? (Not on test)

Answer 44

Shorten vocal folds by pulling arytenoid cartilages forward

Question 45

What is the action of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle? (Not on test)

Answer 45

Opens rima glottidis

Question 46

What is the action of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle? (Not on test)

Answer 46

Closes rima glottidis

Question 47

What is the action of the arytenoid muscles? (Not on test)

Answer 47

Closes rima glottidis

Question 48

What nerve carries sensory information from the larynx inferior to the vocal cords?

Answer 48

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 49

What nerve carries sensory information from the larynx superior to the vocal cords?

Answer 49

Internal laryngeal nerve

Question 50

What is unique about the pathway of the recurrent laryngeal nerve?

Answer 50

Different pathway on each side of the body

Question 51

What branches of the vagus nerve carry parasympathetic information to the cardiac plexus?

Answer 51

Superior and inferior cervical cardiac branches

Question 52

The superior cervical cardiac branches of the vagus nerve leave the vagus nerve to travel with what vessels?

Answer 52

Great vessels (aorta and superior vena cava) to the cardiac plexus

Question 53

The inferior cervical cardiac branches are given off of what branch of the vagus nerve?

Answer 53

Recurrent laryngeal nerves (to eventually go to the cardiac plexus)

Question 54

What is the purpose of the singular branch that carries viscerosensory information from the cervical cardiac branches of the vagus nerve?

Answer 54

Stimulated when aortic pressure is too high to cause the parasympathetic nervous system to dilate the aorta therefore reducing overall pressure

Question 55

What occurs when the vagus nerve enters the thorax?

Answer 55

Passes posterior to the root of the ipsilateral lung and contributes to the pulmonary plexus

Question 56

How many pulmonary plexuses are there?

Answer 56

Two (anterior and posterior)

Question 57

Which pulmonary plexus is larger?

Answer 57

Posterior

Question 58

The anterior pulmonary plexus receives sympathetic fibers from what location?

Answer 58

Cervical sympathetic ganglia

Question 59

The posterior pulmonary plexus receives sympathetic fibers from what location?

Answer 59

Thoracic ganglia (2nd-5th or 6th)

Question 60

What does the inferior laryngeal nerve supply?

Answer 60

Laryngeal musculature

Question 61

What is the general pathway of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve?

Answer 61

Comes off vagus after vagus goes anterior to aortic arch, passes under the arch and ascends to become the inferior laryngeal nerve

Question 62

What is the general pathway of the right recurrent laryngeal nerve?

Answer 62

Passes posteriorly under the subclavian artery before ascending to become the inferior laryngeal nerve

Question 63

What blood vessel is associated with the pathway of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve?

Answer 63

Aortic arch

Question 64

What blood vessel is associated with the pathway of the right recurrent laryngeal nerve?

Answer 64

Subclavian artery

Question 65

What is the action of the levator veli palatine muscle?

Answer 65

Elevates the soft palate

Question 66

Which vagus nerve passes over the anterior esophagus to form the anterior esophageal plexus?

Answer 66

Left vagus nerve

Question 67

Which vagus nerve passes over the posterior esophagus to form the posterior esophageal plexus?

Answer 67

Right vagus nerve

Question 68

What opening do both vagal nerves pass through to enter the abdominal cavity?

Answer 68

Esophageal opening

Question 69

After entering the abdominal cavity, what does the left vagus nerve become?

Answer 69

Anterior vagal trunk

Question 70

The anterior vagal trunk sends branches to what locations?

Answer 70

Stomach, liver, pancreas, and superior part of the duodenum

Question 71

What does the right vagus nerve become as it enters the abdominal cavity?

Answer 71

Posterior vagal trunk

Question 72

The posterior vagal trunk sends branches to what locations?

Answer 72

Posterior stomach then terminates in a celiac branch that sends branches to the duodenum, liver, kidneys, small intestines and proximal 2/3 of the large intestine

Question 73

Vagal supply reaches the gastrointestinal organs via what plexuses?

Answer 73

Celiac, superior mesenteric, and renal plexuses

Question 74

Which vagus nerve has a wider distribution?

Answer 74

Right vagus nerve

Question 75

Which vagus nerve sends branches to organs all located fairly close to the diaphragm?

Answer 75

Left vagus nerve

Question 76

Vagal parasympathetic fibers of the plexuses involved travel to their destination accompanied by which arteries?

Answer 76

Celiac, superior mesenteric, and renal arteries

Question 77

What kinds of fibers are carried in the branches of the vagus nerve that are distributed via plexuses?

Answer 77

Preganglionic parasympathetic and sensory fibers (viscerosensory, obviously, along with general)

Question 78

What is the issue with bilateral transection of the vagus nerve?

Answer 78

It is fatal (lack of supply to the heart)

Question 79

What is the result of vagal lesions within the vault or close to the skull?

Answer 79

Widespread problems related to the palate, pharynx, and larynx (phonation, speaking, swallowing)

Question 80

What can result from damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve?

Answer 80

Hoarseness or decreased volume of speech

Question 81

What branches of the vagus nerve carry taste information and where does it come from?

Answer 81

Pharyngeal branches | Comes from the epiglottic region

Question 82

The celiac plexus of vagal and arterial supply reaches what organs?

Answer 82

Duodenum and liver

Question 83

The superior mesenteric plexus of vagal and arterial supply reaches what organs?

Answer 83

Small intestine and proximal 2/3 of the large intestine

Question 84

The renal plexus of vagal and arterial supply reaches what organs?

Answer 84

Kidneys