Cranial Nerves Flashcards
Cranial nerves (3)
1) Twelve pairs attached to the brain
2) Do not intersect with the spinal cord
3) Connect muscles and organs directly to the brain
Special sensory nerves
Carry information responsible for sight, smell, hearing or balance
Olfactory nerve (CN I) (3)
1) Special sensory nerve
2) Sense of smell
3) Only cranial nerve attached to cerebrum, not brainstem
Optic nerve (CN II) (4)
1) Special sensory nerve
2) Sense of sight
3) Retinas of each eye, cross at optic chiasm
4) Synapse in the thalamus to occipital lobe
Oculomotor nerve (CN III) (4)
1) Motor nerve
2) Eye movement
3) Somatic motor (voluntary)
a) Super, inferior, medial rectus of eye
b) Inferior oblique of eye
4) Visceral motor (involuntary)
a) Pupil dilation
Trochlear nerve (CN IV)
Somatic motor nerve controlling superior oblique of eye
Trigeminal nerve (CN V) (3)
1) Mixed motor and sensory nerve
2) Responsible for chewing and sensation of the face, nose and mouth
3) Three branches:
a) Opthalmic - sensory, forehead and eyebrows, upper nose
b) Maxillary branch - sensory, sensation of skin on lower eyelids, upper lip, upper gums, upper teeth and lips, and pharynx
c) Mandibular - mixed, Sensation - lower gums, teeth and lips, including heat cold and pressure for tongue. Motor - muscles of mastication
Abducens nerve (CN VI)
Motor nerve responsible for eye abduction (outward) and lateral rectus
Facial nerve (CN VII) (4)
1) Mixed motor and sensory nerve
2) Somatic motor - responsible for facial expressions
3) Sensory - sensation of tongue and taste on the anterior portion of the tongue
4) Visceral motor - lacrimal (tear) glands and nasal mucous glands
Vestibulocochlear (CN VIII) (2)
1) Special sensory nerve
a) Vestibular branch - balance and equilibrium
b) Cochlear - hearing
2) Travels through internal acoustic meatus
Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) (2)
1) Mixed motor and sensory
a) Motor - swallowing
b) Sensory - taste on posterior portion of tongue
2) Visceral motor - neurons that control the parotid salivary glands
Vagus nerve (CN X)
1) Mixed motor and sensory nerve
2) Spreads out widely in the abdomen
3) Responsible for digestion, regulation of heart rate, sensation of digestive tract
Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
Motor nerve responsible for voluntary tongue movements
Accessory nerve (CN XI) (also called spinal accessory)
Motor nerve responsible for control of muscles involved in rotation of head and movement of upper shoulders
Cranial Nerve Memory Tool Graphic (Memorize)
Cranial Nerve Picture (Memorize)
