export_cranial nerves Flashcards
What are the six different modalities fibers may carry in cranial nerves
- General somatic efferent - GSE
- General visceral efferent - GVE
- Special visceral efferent - SVE
- General somatic afferent - GSA
- General visceral afferent - GVA
- Sensory afferent - SA
Which cranial nerves carry GSE fibers
Cranial nerves 3, 4, 6, and 12.
Eyes and tongue
Which cranial nerves carry GVE fibers
Cranial nerves 3, 7, 9, and 10
Which cranial nerves carry SVE fibers
Provide motor innervation to the muscles derived from the branchial arches.
5, 7, 9, 10, and 11
Which cranial nerves carry general somatic afferent fibers
Cranial nerves 5, 7, 9, and 10. They transmit visceral information but not pain.
Which cranial nerves carry general visceral afferent fibers
Cranial nerves 9 and 10.
Which cranial nerves carry sensory afferent fibers
Cranial nerves 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9
The occulomotor nerve is associated with what ganglion
The ciliary ganglion (AUTONOMIC)
The trigeminal nerve is associated with what ganglion
The trigeminal ganglion (SENSORY)
The facial nerve is associated with what ganglion
- Geniculate ganglion (SENSORY)
- Pterygopalatine (AUTONOMIC)
- Submandibular (AUTONOMIC)
The vestibulocochlear nerve is associated with what ganglion
The spiral and vestibular ganglion (both SENSORY)
The glossopharyngeal nerve is associated with what ganglion
The superior and inferior/petrosal ganglion (SENSORY)
The otic ganglion (AUTONOMIC)
The vagus nerve is associated with what ganglion
The superior/jugular ganglion (SENSORY)
The inferior/nodose ganglion (SENSORY)
The prevertebral and intramural ganglia (AUTONOMIC)
Features of the olfactory nerve
Sensory afferent nerve. Its primary neurons lie in the olfactory epithelium and function simultaneously as neurosecretory cells and sensory receptors. The primary neurons send bundles of axons across the cribiform plate to synapse with the secondary neurons - mitral and tufted cells - within the olfactory bulbs.
Mitral cells project to the….
Lateral olfactory area
Tufted cells project to the
Anterior olfactory nucleus (primarily)
Also the lateral, intermediate and medial olfactory areas.
The primary/lateral olfactory area is composed of:
- Uncus
- Entorrhinal area - anterior portion of the hippocampal gyrus
- Limen insula
- Part of the amygdala
What is the pyriform cortex
Three of the regions/areas which make up the primary/lateral olfactory area comprise the pyriform cortex:
- Uncus
- Entorrhinal area - anterior portion of the hippocampus
- Limen insula - insular and frontal lobe junction
The olfactory tract carries the axons of secondary olfactory neurons (mitral and tufted cells) to these three olfactory areas:
- Primary/lateral olfactory area via the lateral olfactory stria
- Anterior perforated substance/intermediate olfactory area via intermediate olfactory stria
- Medial olfactory area/septal area via medial olfactory stria. This area mediates emotional response to odors.
What connects the three olfactory areas
The diagonal band of Broca.
Efferent fiber output from the olfactory area travels in the following bundles/tracts:
- The medial forebrain bundle from all three olfactory areas to the hypothalamus
- Stria medullaris thalami from all three olfactory areas to the habenular nucleus
- Stria terminalis from the amygdala to the anterior hypothalamus and pre-optic area.
The hypothalamus sends olfactory information to which three areas
- Reticular formation
- Salvitory nuclei
- Dorsal motor nucleus of X - responsible for nausea, accelerated peristalsis and enhanced gastric secretions.
Where is the anterior olfactory nucleus located, where does it receive its input and where does it project to?
- Located between the olfactory bulb and tract
- Receives input from the tufted cells
- Projects to the contralateral olfactory bulb via the anterior commissure. It also projects to the ipsilateral olfactory areas.
What are the primary and secondary neurons of the second cranial nerve
Cranial nerve II/optic - carries sensory afferent fibers.
Primary sensory neurons are bipolar cells of the retina and they synapse with the retinal ganglion cells (secondary neurons)
What are the three types of retinal ganglion cells?
- X cells
- Y cells
- W cells
What are the features of the X-cells
Largest cell bodies of the three types of retinal ganglion cells.
They provide a tonic response to the pretectum and lateral geniculate body.
Their transmission rate is very slow.
What are the features of the Y cells
They provide a phasic response to the lateral geniculate body and the superior colliculus.
Their transmission rate is rapid.
What are the features of the W-cells
The smallest cell bodies of the retinal ganglion cells.
They provide tonic and phasic response to the superior colliculus and pretectum.
They have a very slow transmission rate.
What is the general pathway of information carried via cranial nerve 2.
Bipolar retinal cells synpase with the retinal ganglion cells. The latter then send axons to the optic nerve –> optic canal –> optic chiasm –> optic tract –> projections.
The optic tract projects information to the following areas:
- Thalamic lateral geniculate body
- which then sends tertiary neurons (optic radiations) to the primary visual cortex around the calcarine fissure. - Pretectal area - light reflex
- Superior colliculus - eye movement reflexes
- Suprachiasmatic nuclei - neuroendocrine/day night stuff
General features of Meyer’s loop
Courses anteriorly toward the temporal pole before turning posteriorly.
Carries fibers/information which represents the contralateral superior visual quadrant.
What is von Willebrand’s knee?
Contains fibers from the contralateral optic nerve which course into the other optic nerve before continuing down the optic tract.
What fiber modalities are found in cranial nerve III/occulomotor
General somatic efferent and general visceral efferent.
GSE and GVE.
Where is the occulomotor nuclear complex located and what are its three subnuclei
Occulomotor nuclear complex is found at the level of superior colliculus.
It has three subnuclei which supply individual muscles of the ocular region
- Lateral - ipsilateral inferior rectus, inferior oblique, and medial rectus.
- Medial - contralateral superior rectus
- Central - bilateral levator palpebrae superioris
What is the course of the GSE fibers in the third cranial nerve
Lower motor nerve axons travel through the tegmentum -> red nucleus -> medial aspect of the cerebral peduncles -> interpeduncular cistern.
From there they pass between the PCA and SCA -> oculomotor trigone in the posterior roof of the cavernous sinus -> superior orbital fissure -> anulus of Zinn -> orbit
Describe the anatomy of the third cranial nerve as it enters the orbit.
The third cranial nerve divides into the superior and inferior divisions once it enters the orbit.
Features of the superior division of the third cranial nerve
Ascends lateral to the optic nerve and supplies the superior rectus and levator palpebrae superioris
Features of the inferior division of the third cranial nerve.
Supplies the inferior rectus, inferior oblique, and medial rectus muscles.
Parasympathetic fibers (GVEs) branch off of the inferior division of CN3 or off of the nerves which supply the inferior oblique and then enter the ciliary ganglion.
Course of the general visceral efferent fibers within the third cranial nerve.
Originate from the Edinger-Westphal nucleus in the midbrain. They course in the dorsal and superficial aspect of the third nerve until they branch from the nerves that supply the inferior oblique and terminate in the ciliary ganglion.
Postganglionic fibers form the short ciliary nerves which travel with V1 anteriorly between the choroid and sclera to terminate in the ciliary body and iris
What is the role of the GVE fibers of the third nerve
They innervate the pupillary constrictor muscles –> constriction
They innervate the ciliary muscles in order to faciliate lens bending for accommodation.
What fiber modalities course through the 4th cranial nerve.
General somatic efferent (GSE)
Course of the fibers which lie within the 4th cranial nerve.
Originate at the trochlear nucleus at the level of the inferior colliculus. Then crosses in the superior medullary velum of the midbrain, it then exits the contralateral side just below the inferior colliculus and courses around the peduncles emerging between the PCA and SCA with the 3rd cranial nerve. After this it travels within the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus through the superior orbital fissure and into the orbit ABOVE the annulus of Zinn.
What does the fourth cranial nerve do
Innervates the superior oblique muscle.
Special/unique features of the 4th cranial nerve
- Only nerve to exit from the dorsum of the brainstem
- Smallest cranial nerve
- Longest intracranial course
- The only cranial nerve in which all the LMN axons decussate
- The only nerve to decussate outside the CNS.
What fiber modalities run through the 5th cranial nerve?
Special visceral efferent and general somatic afferent.
SVE and GSA
Where is the nucleus of 5 located and what are its subcomponents?
Motor nucleus
Sensory nucleus: three subnuclei
- Mesencephalic nucleus
- Chief sensory nucleus
- Spinal nucleus
What is the role of the mesencephalic sensory nucleus of 5
Conveys proprioceptive information from the muscles of mastication.
What is the role of the chief sensory nucleus of cranial nerve 5
Conveys light touch from the face
What is the role of the spinal nucleus of 5
It conveys pain, temperature, and deep pressure information.
Where does the trigeminal nerve exit the brainstem
Exits the brainstem at the midlateral surface of the pons as a large sensory root (portio major) and a smaller motor root (portio minor)