Cranial Nerves

Question 1

Cranial Nerve I

Name, Cell Body Location, Function, Testing

Answer 1

Olfactory N

Olfactory mucosa

Special sense Smell

Test by introducing well known smells

Question 2

Cranial Nerve II

Name, Cell Body Location, Function, Testing

Answer 2

Optic N

Retina of eye

Special sense Sight

Test with Snellen’s, Visual Field, Pupillary Reflex, Blink Reflex

Question 3

Cranial Nerve III

Name, Cell Body Location, Function, Testing

Answer 3

Oculomotor N

Midbrain

Innervates Superior/Inferior/Medial Rectus Ms, Inferior Oblique M and Levator Palpebrae Superioris M

Test with Pupillary reflex and H test

Question 4

Cranial Nerve IV

Name, Cell Body Location, Function, Testing

Answer 4

Trochlear N

Dorsal Midbrain

Innervates Superior Oblique M

Test with H test

Question 5

Cranial Nerve V

Name, Cell Body Location, Function, Testing

Answer 5

Trigeminal N

Pons

V1 Opthalmic: forehead and nose sensation
V2 Maxillary: Cheek sensation
V3 Mandibular: Chin sensation, Pharyngeal Arch 1 Ms.

Test with clenching teeth, facial sensation, corneal reflex (V1)

Question 6

Cranial Nerve VI

Name, Cell Body Location, Function, Testing

Answer 6

Abducens N

Pons-Medulla Junction

Innervates Lateral Rectus M

Test with H test

Question 7

Cranial Nerve VII

Name, Cell Body Location, Function, Testing

Answer 7

Facial N

Pons-Medulla Junction

Innervates Pharyngeal Arch 2 Ms., PSNS for glands, Anter 2/3 of taste and external acoustic meatus sensation

Test with Blink reflex, Corneal reflex, Anterior tongue taste, Moving face

Question 8

Cranial Nerve VIII

Name, Cell Body Location, Function, Testing

Answer 8

Vestibulocochlear N

Vestibular: Utricle and Saccule
Cochlear: Cochlea

Special senses of hearing and equilibrium

Test with Weber-Rinne, Romberg’s, Past Pointing, Nystagmus

Question 9

Cranial Nerve IX

Name, Cell Body Location, Function, Testing

Answer 9

Glossopharyngeal N

Medulla

Posterior taste, ear sensation, oropharynx/carotid body sensation, parotid gland, Stylopharyngeus M

Test with parotid reflex, gag reflex, posterior taste

Question 10

Cranial Nerve X

Name, Cell Body Location, Function, Testing

Answer 10

Vagus N

Medulla

Innervates Pharyngeal Arch 4 and 6 Ms, Visceral afferents and efferents, dura sensation

Test with gag reflex, swallow reflex, hoarseness and uvula deviation

Question 11

Cranial Nerve XI

Name, Cell Body Location, Function, Testing

Answer 11

Accessory Spinal N

Superior Spinal Cord

Innervates Trapezius and Sternocleidomastoid Ms

Test with shoulder shrug and head turn

Question 12

Cranial Nerve XII

Name, Cell Body Location, Function, Testing

Answer 12

Hypoglossal N

Medulla

Innervates Styloglossus, Hypoglossus and Genioglossus Ms

Test with sticking out tongue

Question 13

Cranial Nerve III Nuclei (2)*

Answer 13

Edinger-Westphal Nucleus

Oculomotor Nucleus

Question 14

Cranial Nerve IV Nucleus

Answer 14

Trochlear Nucleus

Question 15

Cranial Nerve V Nuclei (4)

Answer 15

Mesencephalic Trigeminal Nucleus
Trigeminal Motor Nucleus
Pontine Trigeminal Nucleus
Spinal Trigeminal Nucleus

Question 16

Cranial Nerve VI Nucleus

Answer 16

Abducens Nucleus

Question 17

Cranial Nerve VII Nuclei (4)*

Answer 17

Superior Salivatory Nucleus
Facial Nucleus
Nucleus Solitarius
Spinal Trigeminal Nucleus

Question 18

Cranial Nerve VIII Nuclei (2)

Answer 18

Vestibular Nucleus

Cochlear Nucleus

Question 19

Cranial Nerve IX Nuclei (4)*

Answer 19

Inferior Salivatory Nucleus
Nucleus Ambiguus
Nucleus Solitarius
Spinal Trigeminal Nucleus

Question 20

Cranial Nerve X Nuclei (4)*

Answer 20

Dorsal Vagal Nucleus
Nucleus Ambiguus
Nucleus Solitarius
Spinal Trigeminal Nucleus