Cranial Nerves Flashcards
What is CN I?
Olfactory
What is the path of CNI?
Olfactory nerves from roof of nasal cavity
Pass through cribiform foramina in the olfactory plate
Olfacroy bulb
Olfactory tract
Temporal lobe
What is the role of CNI?
Special sensory
What is the function of CNI?
Olfaction
How is CNI tested?
Ask about sense of smell
What is anosmia?
Loss of sense of smell
What is CNII?
Optic
What is the path of CNII?
Retinal ganglion cells
Axons form optic nerve
Exit orbit via optic canal
Fibres cross and merge at optic chiasm
What is the optic nerve?
Carries sensory fibres from one eye
What is the optic tract?
Contains sensory information from part of right and left eyes
What is the role of CNII?
Special sensory
What is the function of CNII?
Impulses generated in response to light - perceived as vision in primary visual cortex
How is CNII tested?
Visual acuity using Snellen chart
Visual fields
Pupillary responses
How can CNII be visualised?
Opthalmoscope
- seen as optic disc
Where do CNI and CNII originate from?
Forebrain
Where do CNIII and CNIV originate from?
Midbrain
What is CNIII?
Occulomotor
What is the path of CNIII?
Midbrain
Lateral wall of cavernous sinus
Superior orbital fissure
What is the role of CNIII?
Motor
Autonomic - carries parasympathetic fibres
What is the motor function of CNIII?
Innervates extra-ocular muscles
Innervates muscle of eyelid
What is the autonomic function of CNIII?
Innervates sphincter pupillae
Innervates ciliary muscle
What is the clinical relevance of CNIII?
Vulnerable to compression by raised ICP between tentorium cerebelli and temporal lobe
- sign = blown pupil
How is CNIII tested?
Inspecting eyelids and pupil size
Testing eye movements
Testing pupillary reflexes
What is a sign of CNIII pathology?
Pupillary dilation
‘Down and out’ position + ptosis
What causes ‘down and out’ position of CNIII?
Unopposed action of CNIV and CNVI
What can cause pathology of CNIII?
Raised ICP
Aneurysm of PCA
Cavernous sinus thrombosis
Vascular (secondary to diabetes/HTN)
What is CNIV?
Trochlear
What is the path of CNIV?
Midbrain
Cavernous sinus
Superior orbital fissure
What is the role of CNIV?
Motor
What is the optic tract?
Contains sensory information from part of right and left eyes
What is the role of CNII?
Special sensory
What is the function of CNII?
Impulses generated in response to light - perceived as vision in primary visual cortex
How is CNII tested?
Visual acuity using Snellen chart
Visual fields
Pupillary responses
How can CNII be visualised?
Opthalmoscope
- seen as optic disc
Where do CNI and CNII originate from?
Forebrain
Where do CNIII and CNIV originate from?
Midbrain
What is CNIII?
Occulomotor
What is the path of CNIII?
Midbrain
Lateral wall of cavernous sinus
Superior orbital fissure
What is the role of CNIII?
Motor
Autonomic - carries parasympathetic fibres
What is the motor function of CNIII?
Innervates extra-ocular muscles
Innervates muscle of eyelid
What is the autonomic function of CNIII?
Innervates sphincter pupillae
Innervates ciliary muscle
What is the clinical relevance of CNIII?
Vulnerable to compression by raised ICP between tentorium cerebelli and temporal lobe
- sign = blown pupil
How is CNIII tested?
Inspecting eyelids and pupil size
Testing eye movements
Testing pupillary reflexes
What is a sign of CNIII pathology?
Pupillary dilation
‘Down and out’ position + ptosis
What causes ‘down and out’ position of CNIII?
Unopposed action of CNIV and CNVI
What can cause pathology of CNIII?
Raised ICP
Aneurysm of PCA
Cavernous sinus thrombosis
Vascular (secondary to diabetes/HTN)
What is CNIV?
Trochlear