cranial nerves Flashcards
what are the cranial nerves?
- a set of **12 **paired nerves **arising directly **from the brain
where do the cranial nerves emerge from?
- they emerge from the cranial cavity via the foramina or fissures in the cranium
what are the 2 main origins of cranial nerves?
- The **cerebrum **( CN I & II)
- The brain stem (CN III- XII)
where in the brain stem do the CN III- XII originate from?
* midbrain (pontine junction) - CN III - oculomotor
* **midbrain **- trochlear (IV) arises from posterior side of midbrain
* **Pons **- the trigeminal (3 branches) V
* **Medulla Oblongata **(IX - XI)
what are the 12 cranial nerves?
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- Olfactory
- Optic
- Oculomtor
- Trochlear
- Trigeminal
- Abducent
- Facial
- Vestibulocochlear
- Glossopharyngeal
- Vagus
- Accessory (spinal)
- Hypoglossal nerve
What is a motor (efferent) nerve?
carries information from the brain to the periphery
what is a sensory (afferent) nerve?
- Carries information** from the periphery to the brain**
Define general somatic afferent
converys general sensation from the skin
Define** general visceral afferent **
converys general sensation from viscera
Define special somatic afferent
conveys senses derived from ectoderm eg sight balance
Define general somatic efferent
conveys motor innervation for skeletal muscles
Define general visceral efferent
conveys motor innervation for smooth muscle, cardiac muscle and glands
Describe the **olfactory nerve **
function
- CN I
- function : carries special sensory fibres for** sense of smell**
- speciailised nerve fibres located in olfactory mucosa
- these fibres** enter the cranial cavity** via the cribiform plate of ethmoid bone
what can happen if there is severe head trauma / injury to the anterior cranial fossa (hint - to do with olfactory nerve)
- it can cause seperation of the olfactory bulb from the nerves
- can cause anosmia - loss of sense of smell
what other cranial nerve also innervates the nasal mucosa and what is it’s function?
- CN V
- function - chemoreceptor - senses coldness
Describe the optic nerve (CN II)
- special somatic afferent
- transmits all visual information - including colour & brightness perception
what is the optic chiasm?
what is it formed from? function?
- formed by merging fibers from the optic nerve
- function - receives visual information from the optic nerve and **transmits this information to the optic tracts **
what is the CNII surrounded by?
it is surrounded by extensions of the cranial meninges and subarachnoid space - which is filled with CSF