cranial nerves Flashcards

1
Q

what are the cranial nerves?

A
  • a set of **12 **paired nerves **arising directly **from the brain
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2
Q

where do the cranial nerves emerge from?

A
  • they emerge from the cranial cavity via the foramina or fissures in the cranium
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3
Q

what are the 2 main origins of cranial nerves?

A
  • The **cerebrum **( CN I & II)
  • The brain stem (CN III- XII)
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4
Q

where in the brain stem do the CN III- XII originate from?

A

* 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)

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5
Q

what are the 12 cranial nerves?

One Of Our Top Teachers Asked For Very Good Vinegar And Honey

A
  1. Olfactory
  2. Optic
  3. Oculomtor
  4. Trochlear
  5. Trigeminal
  6. Abducent
  7. Facial
  8. Vestibulocochlear
  9. Glossopharyngeal
  10. Vagus
  11. Accessory (spinal)
  12. Hypoglossal nerve
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6
Q

What is a motor (efferent) nerve?

A

carries information from the brain to the periphery

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7
Q

what is a sensory (afferent) nerve?

A
  • Carries information** from the periphery to the brain**
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8
Q

Define general somatic afferent

A

converys general sensation from the skin

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9
Q

Define** general visceral afferent **

A

converys general sensation from viscera

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10
Q

Define special somatic afferent

A

conveys senses derived from ectoderm eg sight balance

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11
Q

Define general somatic efferent

A

conveys motor innervation for skeletal muscles

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12
Q

Define general visceral efferent

A

conveys motor innervation for smooth muscle, cardiac muscle and glands

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13
Q

Describe the **olfactory nerve **

function

A
  • 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
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14
Q

what can happen if there is severe head trauma / injury to the anterior cranial fossa (hint - to do with olfactory nerve)

A
  • it can cause seperation of the olfactory bulb from the nerves
  • can cause anosmia - loss of sense of smell
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15
Q

what other cranial nerve also innervates the nasal mucosa and what is it’s function?

A
  • CN V
  • function - chemoreceptor - senses coldness
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16
Q

Describe the optic nerve (CN II)

A
  • special somatic afferent
  • transmits all visual information - including colour & brightness perception
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17
Q

what is the optic chiasm?

what is it formed from? function?

A
  • formed by merging fibers from the optic nerve
  • function - receives visual information from the optic nerve and **transmits this information to the optic tracts **
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18
Q

what is the CNII surrounded by?

A

it is surrounded by extensions of the cranial meninges and subarachnoid space - which is filled with CSF

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19
Q

what is the function of the visual pathway?

A
  • the visual pathway transmits information interpreted from **visual light from the eyes to the visual cortex in the brain
20
Q

what is the** visual field**?

A
  • the visual field is what is seen by a person with both eyes wide open and looking straight ahead
21
Q

Describe the visual pathway

the beginning - ie light - ocular bulb-retina-optic nerve - chiasm

A
  • visual pathway begins with light entering the ocular bulb and being processed by the retina
  • information then passed on from the retina by the optic nerve which travels to the optic chiasm
22
Q

Describe the visual pathway** from the optic chiasm**

A
  • from the optic chiasm, the axons are now called the optic tract
  • the axons then synapse at the** lateral geniculate nucleus**
23
Q

how do axons from the lateral geniculate nucleus reach the visual cortex of the brain?

A

they travel via the optic radiation

24
Q

where are inputs from the right and left visual field carried by?

A
  • information from the left visual field carried in right optic tract
  • information from right visual field carried in left optic tract
25
Q

where does oculomotor nerve CNIII supply?

A
  • this nerve supplies all extra ocular muscles of the eye** EXCEPT** the** lateral rectus and superior oblique **
26
Q

what are the functions of the oculomotor nerve?

A
  • eye movement
  • pupil constriction (through parasynpathetic innervation)
  • maintaining open eyelid

NB - somatic efferent (motor) - as info goes from brain to periphery (eyes)

27
Q

Describe the trochlear nerve CN IV

A
  • motor innervation of the** superior oblique muscle -** like a pulley system (trochlear = pulley)
  • unique - exits from posterior side of brain stem
28
Q

Describe the CN VI - abducens nerve

A
  • provides motor innervation of the lateral rectus muscle
  • leaves brainstem at junction of pons and medulla
29
Q

Describe the trigeminal nerve - CN V

A

* mixed nerve - carries both sensory and motor information
* primary sensory nerve for face and anterior scalp
* motor nerve for muscles of mastication and other small muscles
* trigeminal = triplet

30
Q

what 3 terminal nerves does the sensory route of the trigeminal nerve CN V divide into?

A
  • Ophthalmic nerve
  • maxillary nerve
  • mandibular nerve
31
Q

Describe the **facial nerve **

A
  • CN VII
  • supplies motor innervation to the muscles of facial expression
  • supplies parasympathetic innervation to the salivary glands, lacrimal glands, and mucous glands
32
Q

Describe the vestibulocochlear nerve CN VIII

A
  • carries special sensory fibres for hearing and balance
  • can be divided into 2 components - cochlear part (transmits auditory info to brain) and vestibular part (transmits info about balance to the brain)
33
Q

Describe the glossopharyngeal nerve

A
  • transmits sensory info from the carotid body & sinus, posterior third of tongue, oropharynx etc
  • carries special sensory fibres for taste for posterior 1/3 of tongue
34
Q

what gland does the glossopharyngeal nerve innervate?

A

the parotid salivary gland

35
Q

what does the glossopharyngeal nerve arise from and where does it** exit the cranial cavity**?

A
  • arises from the medulla oblongata
  • exits the cranial cavity via the jugular foramen
36
Q

Describe the vagus nerve CN X

vagus = wondering in latin

A
  • most widely distributed CN
    *** mixed **nerve
  • provides sensory info to the **heart, lungs trachea, bronchi, pharynx ** and more…
  • also supplies parasympathetic info to smooth muscle and glands in the body
37
Q

where does the vagus nerve arise from and where does it exit the cranial cavity?

A
  • it arises from the medulla oblongata
  • exits via the jugular foramen
38
Q

What 2 muscles does the spinal accessory nerve innervate?

A
  • Trapeqius
  • SCM muscle in neck
39
Q

where do the fibres of the spinal accessory nerve originate from?

A

the spinal cord

40
Q

Describe the path of the accessory nerve

A
  • it originates from the spinal cord and ascends into the cranial cavity via the foramen magnum
  • it then exits the cranial cavity via the jugular foramen where it innervates the 2 muscles
41
Q

is the hypoglossal a motor or sensory nerve?

A

motor

42
Q

Describe the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

A
  • motor nerve
  • motor innervation to intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of tongue except for palatoglossus muscle
43
Q

which cranial nerve innervates the palatoglossus muscle ?

A

vagus nerve

44
Q

where does the hypoglossal nerve originate from and where does it exit the cranial cavity?

A
  • it arises from the anterior surface of the medulla oblongata
  • it exits the cranial cavity via he hypoglossal canal
45
Q

which of the cranial nerves are** mixed** nerves?

A
  • trigeminal nerve
  • facial nerve
  • glossopharyngeal nerve
  • vagus nerve
46
Q

what is a brachiomotor nerve?

A

-special motor to muscles from pharyngeal (brachial) arches