Cranial Nerves and Clinical Testing Flashcards
CN I
- name.
- modality.
- where it connects to CNS.
- Olfactory.
- Special sensory.
- Forebrain.
CN II
- name.
- modality.
- where it connects to CNS.
- Optic.
- Special sensory.
- Forebrain.
CN III
- name.
- modality.
- where it connects to CNS.
- Oculomotor.
- Motor.
- Midbrain.
CN IV
- name.
- modality.
- where it connects to CNS.
- Trochlear.
- Motor.
- Midbrain.
CN V
- name.
- modality.
- where it connects to CNS.
- Trigeminal.
- Both i.e. sensory and motor.
- Pons.
CN VI
- name.
- modality.
- where it connects to CNS.
- Abducent.
- Motor.
- Junction between Pons and medulla.
CN VII
- name.
- modality.
- where it connects to CNS.
- Facial.
- Both i.e. sensory and motor.
- Junction between Pons and medulla.
CN VIII
- name.
- modality.
- where it connects to CNS.
- Vestibulocochlear (Acoustic).
- Special sensory.
- Junction between pons and medulla.
CN IX
- name.
- modality.
- where it connects to CNS.
- Glossopharyngeal.
- Both i.e. sensory and motor.
- Medulla.
CN X
- name.
- modality.
- where it connects to CNS.
- Vagus.
- Both i.e. sensory and motor.
- Medulla.
CN XI
- name.
- modality.
- where it connects to CNS.
- Spinal accessory.
- Motor.
- Spinal cord.
CN XII
- name.
- modality.
- where it connects to CNS.
- Hypoglossal.
- Motor.
- Medulla.
Cranial nerves are visible on which aspect of the brain?
Ventral (inferior).
Most cranial nerves exit anteriorly except which and where?
- IV: trochlear, posteriorly.
- VIII: vestibulocochlear, laterally.
What are motor nuclei?
Groups of efferent nerve cells sensing axons into a cranial nerve.
What are sensory nuclei?
Groups of nerve cells on which the sensory neurons of cranial nerves synapse.
Soma of sensory nerve cells will be found where?
In ganglia outside of the CNS.
Which cranial nerve is the only sensory modality that does not synapse in the thalamus prior to reaching the cortex?
Olfactory nerve CN I.
Nuclei of origin for CN III, IV and VI are found near where?
Midline of the brainstem.
Oculomotor CN III provides parasympathetic supply to which muscles?
- Sphincter pupillae.
- Ciliary muscle.
Oculomotor CN III provides somatic motor supply to which muscles?
- Levator palpebrae superioris.
- Superior rectus, medial rectus, inferior rectus.
- Inferior oblique.
Trochlear CN IV provides somatic motor sensation to which muscles?
Superior oblique.
LR6SO4AO3.
The only CN to exit posteriorly and crosses midline (small nerve).
Trochlear.
Hypoglossal CN XII provides somatic motor function to which muscles?
- Genioglossus.
- Hyoglossus.
- Styloglossus.
- Intrinsic tongue muscles.
Spinal accessory CN XI arises from where?
Cervical spinal cord.
Name a function of the trigeminal nerve.
- Somatosensation of face.
- Proprioception ass. with chewing.
- Motor control.
Trigeminal nerve CN V provides the face with which somatosensations?
- Discriminative touch.
- Vibration sense.
- Pain.
- Temperature.
Trigeminal nerve CN V allows proprioception ass. with chewing via what structures?
- TMJ.
- Muscles of mastication.
- Teeth.
Trigeminal nerve CN V is responsible for motor control of what structures?
- Muscles of mastication.
- Tensor tympani.
- Mylohyoid.
- Anterior belly of digastric.
- Tensor veli palatini.
Sensory nucleus of the trigeminal forms a long column of neurons, separated into 3 parts by?
Function.
Mesencephalic nucleus of trigeminal sensory nuclei is involved with what?
Providing proprioception info from chewing muscles.
Pontine nucleus of trigeminal sensory nuclei is involved with what?
- Discriminative touch.
- Vibration.
Spinal nucleus of trigeminal sensory nuclei is involved with what?
- Pain.
- Temperature.
What is the significance of the ventral Trigeminothalamic tract?
Most fibres cross in the midline, but some don’t - therefore there is a bilateral representation of touch and vibration in the cortex.
Facial CN VII provides motor supply to?
- Muscles of facial expression.
- Stapedius.
Facial CN VII provides parasympathetic innervation to?
- Pterygopalatine.
- Submandibular ganglia.
Facial CN VII provides taste to?
- Anterior 2/3 of the tongue via chorda tympani.
Facial CN VII provides taste to the anterior 2/3 of the tongue via which branch?
Chorda tympani.
Glossopharyngeal CN IX receives tactile sense, pain and temperature sense from where?
- Posterior tongue.
- Phayngotympanic tube.
- Upper pharynx.
Glossopharyngeal CN IX provides taste to?
- Posterior 1/3 of the tongue.
Glossopharyngeal CN IX provides parasympathetic fibres to?
- Otic ganglion of parotid gland.
Glossopharyngeal CN IX provides motor supply to?
Stylopharyngeus.
Vagus CN X receives tactile sense, pain and temperature sense from where?
- Pharynx.
- Larynx.
- Trachea.
- Oesophagus.
- Thoracic and abdominal viscera.
CN X provides taste sensation to?
Epiglottis.
CN X provides sympathetic innervation to ganglia serving?
Thoracic and abdominal viscera.
CN X provides motor supply to striated muscle of the?
- Pharynx.
- Larynx.
Which CNs have solitary nuclei?
- CN VII.
- CN IX.
- CN X.
Which cranial nerves share the superior and inferior salivatory nuclei?
CN VII and IX.
Superior and inferior salivatory nuclei provide parasympathetic efferents to ganglia of what?
- Salivary glands.
- Pterygopalatine ganglion.
Nucleus ambiguus is shared by which cranial nerves?
CN IX, IX and the cranial part of XI.
Nucleus ambiguus provides motor efferents to?
Muscles of the:
- Pharynx.
- Larynx.
- Upper oesophagus.
What is the corticobulbar tract in relation to cranial nerves?
The part of the pyramidal tract that connects the motor cortex to cranial nerves.
The facial nucleus only receives bilateral input to which part?
Part controlling the muscles of the upper face i.e. forehead and around eyes.
The facial nucleus only receives crossed input to which part?
Part controlling the muscles of the lower half of the face.
What is the reticular formation?
Loose network in the central core of the brainstem consisting of:
- Aggregated cells with cells bodies, axons and dendrites.
Exists distinct from long pathways e.g. corticospinal tract.
Name a function of a centre contained within the reticular formation.
- Integration of cranial nerve reflexes.
- Conduction and modulation of pain.
- Influencing voluntary movement.
- Regulation of autonomic activity.
- Integration of some basic functions e.g. respiration and sleep.
- Activating the cerebral cortex.
Centres within the reticular formation that activate the cerebral cortex are a major component of what?
The Ascending Reticular Activating System.
A medial bilateral lesion of the brainstem reticular formation at or above the pons causes what?
Irreversible coma.
The extracranial part of CN I (olfactory) is found where?
Within olfactory mucosa in the nasal cavity.
Where is the CN I (Olfactory) cranial foramina?
- Cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone in the anterior cranial fossa.
Where is CN I (Olfactory) found at its intracranial part/connection with the CNS?
- The olfactory nerves synapse in the olfactory bulb and then pass through the olfactory tract to cortical areas.
The extracranial part of CN II (Optic) is found where?
- Neurons of the retina travel posteriorly via the optic nerve from the posterior hemisphere of the eye through the orbit.
Where is the CN II (Optic) cranial foramina?
- CN II passes through the OPTIC CANAL in the middle cranial fossa.
The intracranial part of CN II (Optic) is found where?
- CN II travels around the pituitary stalk to the optic chiasm to form the optic tract.
Where does CN II (Optic) connect with the CNS?
Diencephalon.
How is CN I (olfactory) clinically tested?
- Not routinely tested.
- Ask patient to smell a familiar smell while covering the contralateral nostril.