Cranial Nerves VII-XII Flashcards
What is cranial nerve VII?
Facial nerve
Outline the facial nerve
Cranial nerve VII - arises from pons
- muscles of facial expression + stapedius
- special sensory to anterior 2/3 tongue (taste)
- parasympathetic to lacrimal, nasal + salivary glands (except parotid)
How do you test the facial nerve VII?
Test muscles of facial expression
Signs and symptoms of facial nerve VII lesions
- Unilateral facial droop - whole half
- Loss/change in taste to anterior 2/3 of tongue
- Dry eye/mouth
- Hyperacusis - normal sounds are too loud to hear
What is the pathway of the facial nerve?
- from pons into internal acoustic meatus
- into petrous bone + gives off 3 branches (greater petrosal nerve, nerve to stapedius + chorda tympani)
- emerges through base of skull via stylomastoid foramen
- extra cranial branches TZBMC
What does the facial nerve branch into in the petrous bone?
Greater petrosal nerve
Nerve to stapedius
Chorda tympani
Function of the greater petrosal nerve
Parasympathics to lacrimal and nasal glands
What are the functions of chorda tympani (branch of facial nerve)?
- taste to anterior 2/3 tongue
- parasympathics to salivary gland
Causes of facial nerve VII lesions
- lesions in/around internal acoustic meatus
- posterior cranial fossa tumours
- basal skull fracture involving petrous bone
- middle ear disease
- inflammation in facial canal > facial nerve palsy e.g. Bell’s palsy, Ramsay-Hunt syndrome
- parotid disease
What two structures does the facial nerve have a close relation to?
Middle ear cavity
Parotid gland
What is cranial nerve VIII?
Vestibulocochlear nerve
Outline the vestibulocochlear nerve
Cranial nerve VIII - arises from pons
- special sensory to cochlea (hearing)
- vestibular system for balance
What is cranial nerve IX?
Glossopharyngeal nerve
What is cranial nerve X?
Vagus nerve
Pathway of the glossopharyngeal IX + vagus X nerve
- arise from medulla
- run through posterior cranial fossa
- exit through jugular foramen
- enter carotid sheath
- glossopharyngeal IX exits proximally
- vagus X continues inferiorly down neck
Outline the glossopharyngeal nerve
Cranial nerve IX - arises from medulla
- mainly sensory to oropharynx, posterior 1/3 of tongue (sensation + taste) + middle ear cavity
- sensation to carotid sinus + carotid body
- parasympathetic to parotid gland
Outline the vagus nerve
Cranial nerve X - arises from medulla
- muscles of larynx/pharynx + soft palate
- parasympathetic to thoracic + abdominal viscera
- general sensation to lower pharynx + larynx
How do you test the glossopharyngeal nerve IX?
Gag reflex
How do you test the vagus nerve?
Speech
Cough
Soft palate movement
Uvula position
Swallow
Signs and symptoms of vagus nerve lesions
- difficulties with speech
- changes in voice
- dysphagia
- weak cough
- deviated uvula
- nasal regurgitation
What is cranial nerve XI?
Accessory nerve
What is cranial nerve XII?
Hypoglossal nerve
Outline the accessory nerve
Cranial nerve XI - arises from medulla
- motor innervation to trapezius + sternocleidomastoid
How do you test the accessory nerve XI?
Test actions of SCM + trapezius
- SCM: turn head against resistance
- trapezius: shrug shoulders