Cranial Nerves Flashcards
What are all the special sensory cranial nerves?
CNI, CNII, CNVII, CNVIII, CNIX
What modalities does CNI contain?
Special sensory
What modalities does CNII contain?
Special sensory
What modalities does CNIII contain?
Motor and parasympathetics
What modalities does CNIV contain?
Motor
What modalities does CNV contain?
Sensory in all branches, motor in CNV3
What modalities does CNVI contain?
Motor
What modalities does CNVII contain?
Motor, special sensory and parasympathetics
What modalities does CNVIII contain?
Special sensory
What modalities does CNIX contain?
Sensory, special sensory, motor and parasympathetics
What modalities does CNX contain?
Sensory, motor, parasympathetics
What modalities does CNXII contain?
Motor
Which of the cranial nerves connect with the CNS at the midbrain?
Oculomotor and trochlear
Which of the cranial nerves connect with the CNS at the pons?
Trigeminal
Which of the cranial nerves connect with the CNS at the ponto-medullary junction?
Abducens, facial and vestibulocochlear
Which of the cranial nerves connect with the CNS at the spinal cord?
Spinal accessory
What defines the ‘intracranial’ part of a cranial nerve course?
Between their point of connection with the CNS and their base of skull foramina
What cranial cavity does CNI pass through? In which cranial fossa is this?
Cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone - anterior cranial fossa
Where do the olfactory nerves synapse? They then travel through where to reach their cortical areas?
Olfactory bulb / olfactory tract
Intracranially, CNII travels around the pituitary stalk to what structure? It then forms what structure?
The optic chiasm / the optic tract
Where does the optic nerve connect with the CNS?
At the diencephalon
How would you test the olfactory nerve?
Ask the patient to smell a familiar smell while covering the other nostril
How would you test the optic nerve?
Visual acuity, colour vision, visual fields, fundoscopy, pupillary light reflexes
What is the parasympathetic function of CNIII? What muscle is this via?
Pupillary constriction via sphincter pupillae
Which base of skull foramina does the oculomotor nerve pass through?
Superior orbital fissure
How can you test the parasympathetic function of CNIII?
Pupillary light reflexes for pupillary constriction
What is the motor function of the trochlear nerve?
Eye movement - superior oblique muscle
Which cranial nerves travel along the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus?
Oculomotor and trochlear nerves
Which cranial nerve travels within the cavernous sinus?
Abducens nerve
What is the motor function of the abducens nerve?
Eye movement via the lateral rectus muscle
How would the oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nerve all be tested for?
The H test to assess eye movements
The vestibulocochlear nerve is responsible for what?
Hearing and balance
Which base of skull foramina does the vestibulocochlear nerve pass through? Which cranial fossa is this in?
Internal acoustic meatus - posterior cranial fossa
How is the vestibulocohlear nerve tested for?
Rhinne and Weber’s tests
The spinal accessory nerve ascends through which base of skull foramina? And then travels towards which base of skull foramina?
Foramen magnum / jugular foramen
How is the spinal accessory nerve tested?
Ask patients to shrug their shoulders and turn their head against resistance
What is the motor function of the hypoglossal nerve?
Motor function to the muscles of the tongue
Where does the hypoglossal nerve connect with the CNS in relation to the pyramids of the medulla?
Laterally
Describe the extracranial part of the hypoglossal nerve?
Descends lateral to the carotid sheath and then turns anteriorly at the level of the hyoid bone towards the lateral aspect of the tongue
The hypoglossal nerve innervates all muscles ending in glossus except which one?
Palatoglossus