Cranial Nerves B&B Flashcards
how does the olfactory nerve (CN I) enter the skull, and where does it synapse?
enters via cribriform plate of ethmoid bone
synapses in olfactory bulb and travels to piriform cortex
only sense that does not relay through thalamus !
where does the optic nerve (CN II) enter the brain?
enters via optic canal of the sphenoid bone
not really peripheral nerve, arises from diencephalon
which cranial nerve arises from the diencephalon?
optic (CN II) - not technically a peripheral nerve
which 2 cranial nerves are found outside the brainstem?
olfactory (CN I) and optic (CN II)
which muscles (4) are supplied by the oculomotor nerve (CN III), and what are their actions?
- superior rectus - up
- medial rectus - medial
- inferior rectus - down
- inferior oblique - superior rotation
therefore, lesion (palsy) —> eye is down and out
[recall trochlear/CN IV supplies superior oblique for down/in]
name the 3 functions of the cranial nerve 3 (oculomotor nerve)
- moves eye (superior rectus, medial rectus, inferior rectus, inferior oblique)
- elevates eyelid (levator palpebrae)
- constricts pupil (sphincter papillae)
how does a palsy of the oculomotor nerve (CN III) present? (3)
- moves eye (superior rectus, medial rectus, inferior rectus, inferior oblique)
- elevates eyelid (levator palpebrae)
- constricts pupil (sphincter papillae)
lesion/palsy —> eye is down/out, pupil is dilated, ptosis
what is the smallest cranial nerve, and what is its function?
trochlear (CN IV): supplies superior oblique of eye, which turns eye down and in (reading, walking down stairs)
therefore, palsy —> diplopia (double vision)
name the muscles of the eye and their nervous innervation
oculomotor (CN III) —> superior rectus, medial rectus, inferior rectus, inferior oblique (superior rotation)
trochlear (CN IV) —> superior oblique (inferior rotation)
abducens (CN VI) —> lateral rectus
how does a palsy of CN IV present?
trochlear nerve: supplies superior oblique (inferior rotation of eye)
palsy —> diplopia + eye tilted outward (causes patient to tilt their head AWAY from affected side to compensate)
reading, going down stairs is difficult
eye is down/out, pupil is dilated, ptosis
where is the lesion?
oculomotor nerve (CN III)
- moves eye (superior rectus, medial rectus, inferior rectus, inferior oblique)
- elevates eyelid (levator palpebrae)
- constricts pupil (sphincter papillae)
diplopia + eye tilted outward (causes patient to tilt their head AWAY from affected side to compensate)
reading, going down stairs is difficult
where is the lesion?
trochlear nerve (CN IV): supplies superior oblique (inferior rotation of eye)
what is the key function of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)? name the 3 divisions
sensory + motor, 3 divisions: ophthalmic (V1), maxillary (V2), mandibular (V3)
key function: sensory to face (touch, pain, temp)
also part of corneal reflex (V1) and mastication (chewing)
which division of the trigeminal nerve (CN V) is part of the corneal reflex?
sensory + motor, 3 divisions: ophthalmic (V1), maxillary (V2), mandibular (V3)
ophthalmic (V1) division is part of corneal reflex - senses something touching cornea, transmits bilaterally to CN VII (facial), which causes both eyes to blink
how does palsy of CN V (trigeminal) present? (3)
mixed nerve, main function is sensory to face, also mastication
palsy —>
1. numb face
2. weak jaw - deviates towards affected side due to unopposed action of normal side
3. trigeminal neuralgia - recurrent sharp pains to half of face (rx = carbamazepine, seizure med)
Pt presents with numbness and recurrent, sharp pains to half their face, on the L side. The jaw is noted to deviate towards the left.
Where is the lesion, and what can you prescribe for the facial pain?
trigeminal (CN V) lesion - gives sensory innervation to face + mastication
jaw deviates towards lesion due to unopposed action of other side
treat tic douloureux (painful tic) with carbamazepine (seizure med, found to help here)
how does palsy of CN VI present?
abducens nerve: innervates lateral rectus, which moves eye out
palsy —> diplopia, can’t move affected eye laterally
diplopia + can’t move eye laterally
where is the lesion?
abducens nerve: innervates lateral rectus, which moves eye out
describe the functions of the facial nerve (CN VII) (3)
mixed nerve, innervates
1. muscles of facial expression [recall CN V is sensory to face]
2. taste, salivation, lacrimation
3. some ear muscles (stapedius)
explain when facial nerve (CN VII) damage affects the whole half of the face vs just the lower half
lower motor (LMN) damage causes facial droop of the whole half of face
upper motor (UMN) damage (such as MCA stroke) only causes facial droop of the lower half of the face, due to dual innervation of the upper half by both sides of the brain to the facial motor nucleus in the pons