Cranial Nerves

Question 1

What is the brainstem continuous with rostrally?

Answer 1

diencephalon

Question 2

What is the brainstem continuous with caudally?

Answer 2

spinal cord

Question 3

What are the pneumonics for the cranial nerves?

Answer 3

Nerves: Ooh, ooh, ooh to touch and feel very good velvet. Such heaven.
S, M or B: Some say marry money but my brother says bad business marrying money.

Question 4

Cranial nerve I: name, S/M/B, function, dysfunction?

Answer 4

Olfactory
S
smell
anosmia

Question 5

Cranial nerve II: name, S/M/B, function, dysfunction?

Answer 5

optic
S
vision
loss of vision

Question 6

Cranial nerve III: name, S/M/B, function, dysfunction?

Answer 6

oculomotor
M
ipsilateral eye muscles
ipsilateral “down and out”

Question 7

Cranial nerve IV: name, S/M/B, function, dysfunction?

Answer 7

trochlear
M
contralateral superior oblique eyes muscle
inability to look straight down

Question 8

Cranial nerve V: name, S/M/B, function, dysfunction?

Answer 8

abducens
M
ipsilateral lateral rectus eye muscle
ipsilateral eye pulled medially

Question 9

Cranial nerve VI: name, S/M/B, function, dysfunction?

Answer 9

trigeminal
B
Sensory: ophthalmic, maxillary, mandibular
Motor: part of mandibular division
ipsilateral numbness

Question 10

Cranial nerve VII: name, S/M/B, function, dysfunction?

Answer 10

facial 
B
Motor: ipsilateral facial expression
Sensory: taste, audition
Bell’s palsy (face pulled toward unaffected side)

Question 11

Cranial nerve VIII: name, S/M/B, function, dysfunction?

Answer 11

vestibulocochlear
S
audition + balance
Cochlea: unilateral, ipsilateral hearing loss
Vesitbular: vertigo, nystagmus

Question 12

Cranial nerve IX: name, S/M/B, function, dysfunction?

Answer 12

glossopharyngeal
B
Parotid gland
Motor: elevates pharynx during talking
Sensory: taste
Bilateral loss

Question 13

Cranial nerve X: name, S/M/B, function, dysfunction?

Answer 13

vagus
B
Parasympathetic – heart, lungs, GIT
Motor – pharynx + larynx
Sensory – taste from epiglottis + pharynx
Ipsilateral: hoarseness, difficulty swallowing
Bilateral: death

Question 14

Cranial nerve XI: name, S/M/B, function, dysfunction?

Answer 14

spinal accessory
M
Sternocleidomstoid + trapezius muscle
Can’t turn head to opposite side of affected nerve

Question 15

Cranial nerve XII: name, S/M/B, function, dysfunction?

Answer 15

hypoglossal 
M
ipsilateral control of tongue
Weakness of muscle ipsilaterally
Tongue deviates toward side of lesion
Bilateral = difficulty eating + speaking