Cranial nerves Flashcards
What is the function of the oculomotor nerve?
Oculomotor nucleus: supplies somatic motot function to all extraocular muscles except lateral rectus and superior oblique
Supplies ciliary muscle which affects accommodation
Edinger-Westphal nucleus: parasympathetic control of pupil via ciliary ganglion
(sympathetic comes separately via carotid artery)
Where is the CN III nucleus?
Midbrain
Level of superior colliculi
Ventral to aqueduct of Sylvius
What is the arrangement of the CN III nuclei?
Rostro-caudal
Rostral: Edinger-Westphal nucleus
Caudal: centrocaudal nucleus (supplies levator palpebrae)
What is special about the superior rectus nucleus?
Contralateral fascicle
Supplies opposite sides muscle (in reality the fibres cross so close it causes ipsilateral failure of elevation and paralysis of IO)
Where does the fascicle of CN III run and which arteries does it pass between?
Passes by red nucleus to exit in interpeduncular fissure
Passes between posterior cerebral and superior cerebellar artery, alongside posterior communicating artery
What are Webers, Benedikts, Nothnagels syndromes?
Webers: CN III plus contralateral limb weakness (corticospinal fibres)
Benedikts: CN III plus contralateral cerebellar tremor (red nucleus)
Nothnagels: CN III plus cerebellar ataxia (cerebellar peduncles)
Describe the cranial course of CN III
Exits midbrain via interpeduncular fissure
Pierces dura lateral to posterior clinoid process
Passes between free and attached borders of tentorium cerebelli
Runs in lateral wall (superiorly) of cavernous sinus to superior orbital fissure
Where does the oculomotor nerve sit in the superior orbital fissure?
In superior and inferior divisions
Superior above nasociliary nerve and inferior below
All within tendinous ring
What do the 2 divisions of CNIII supply?
Superior: Levator palpabrae, superior rectus
Inferior division: Inferior oblique, inferior rectus, parasympathetic fibres, medial rectus
What are the three branches of the CN III inferior division?
-Passes beneath optic nerve to medial rectus
-inferior rectus
-longest branch runs between IR and LR to inferior oblique
All enter muscle on ocular surface except branch to inferior oblique which enters posteriorly
What are the only fibres to synapse in the ciliary ganglion?
Parasympathetic fibres
What occurs in oculomotor palsy?
Down and out pupil
Ptosis
Mydriasis due to unopposed sympathetic input on pupil
Ischaemic: complete + pupil sparing
Posterior communicating artery aneurysm: incomplete, involves the pupil, pain
What are the functions of the trochlear nerve?
Supplies superior oblique
Depresses
Intorts
Abducts
What is special about CN IV?
Smallest number of axons
Longest intracranial course
Exits the dorsal aspect of midbrain
Only cranial nerve to decussate before innervating its target
No aneurysm can cause isolate CN IV palsy
Head trauma most common cause of injury
Mass lesions can damage it by stretching the nerve where it hooks over petrous temporal bone
Where is the nucleus of CN IV?
Lies in dorsal aspect of midbrain beneath cerebral aqueduct
Level of inferior colliculus
What is the course of CN IV in the brain?
Exits dorsally
Runs along tentorium in subarachnoid space
Nucleus adjacent to descending sympathetic pathways (check for Horner’s syndrome)
Runs between posterior cerebral and superior cerebellar arteries
Enters cavernous sinus below CN III
Where does CN IV run in the superior orbital fissure?
Superior to CN III
Inferior to frontal lacrimal and superior ophthalmic vein outside the tendinous ring
How does CN IV palsy present?
Vertical/torsional diplopia
Head tilt and chin down
What is the function of the abducens nerve?
Supplies lateral rectus
Abduction
Contains 2 types of cells. Motor neurons which control ipsilateral LR and interneurons which cross the midline connecting to the contralateral oculomotor nucleus (responsible for coordinated horizontal gaze)