Lecture 2: Cranial Nerves Flashcards
What are the four parasympathetic ganglion?
Cilliary
Pterygopalatine
Otic
Submandibular
Mnemonic: Cats Prefer Smart Owners
Simply put, where are the 12 cranial nerves located?
Use Rule of 4s
Cranial Nerves 1-4 are above the pons
Cranial Nerves 5-8 in the pons
Cranial Nerves 9-12 in the medulla
Cranial Nerve I
What is this nerve?
What is it’s origin
Fun fact about nerve
Olfactory Nerve
Receptors in nasal mucosa of nasal cavity
Only type of nervous tissue to regenerate
What is CN I’s pathway
Travels through the foramina in cribiform plate of ethmoid bone and synapses in the olfactory bulb.
What is the modality & function of CN I?
How can CN I be damaged
What happens if this nerve is damaged?
Special Sensory: smell/olfaction
Fracture of cribiform plate
If damaged, can cause anosmia (partial or total loss of smell) or cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea
Cranial Nerve II
What is this nerve?
What is its origin?
Optic Nerve
Retina of the eye
What is the general tract (pathway) of CN II from the brain?
- Optic nerve fibers arise from ganglion cells in retina
- Enters cranium via optic foramen
- Nerves unite at optic chiasm
- Synapse onto lateral geniculate nucleus of thalamus
- Information is forwarded to the occipital lobe
What is the modality & function of CN II?
What happens if this nerve is damaged?
Special Sensory: vision
If damaged, can cause anopsia (visual defects) & loss of pupillary constriction
What cranial nerves go through the superior orbital fissure?
CN III - Occulomotor N.
CN IV - Trochlear N.
CN V1 - Opthalmic N.
CN VI - Abducens N.
Cranial Nerve III
What is this nerve?
What is it’s modality?
What is its origin?
Oculomotor Nerve
Somatic Motor (GSE) & Visceral Motor (GVE)
Oculumotor and Edinger Westphal nuclei within mesencephalon (midbrain)
What is the general tract of CN III from the brain?
- Leaves cranium via superior orbital fissure and travels to eye and eyelid.
- PS fibers travel to ciliary ganglion
- Post-gang PS fibers then travel to iris and ciliary muscle.
What is the parasympathetic motor function of CN III?
(What muscles is it innervating?)
Visceral Motor Functions
- Constricts the pupil: sphincter pupillae muscle (constrictor)
- Contracts cilliary muscle to make the lens of the eye more spherical and relaxed (as needed for near vision and to maintain focus)
Parasympathetic: Rest, Digest, READ
What is the somatic motor function of CN III?
Somatic Motor Functions
- Innervates intrinsic eye muscle: Elevates eyelid
- Levator Palpebrae Superioris Muscle
- Innervates extrinsic eye muscle: Move eyeball
- Superior Rectus Muscle
- Medial Rectus Muscle
- Inferior Rectus Muscle
- Inferior Oblique Muscle
What happens if CN III is damaged?
Oculomotor (CN III) Nerve Palsy
- Paralysis of eye muscles leading to strabismus
- eyes are not parallel and deviated improperly
- Ptosis (upper eleyid droop)
- Diplopia (double vision)
- Dilated pupil
- Difficulty with focusing
Gaze will be down and out!!
Cranial Nerve IV
What is this nerve?
What is it’s modality?
What is its origin?
Trochlear Nerve
Somatic Motor (GSE)
Trochlear nucleus within mesencephalon (midbrain)
What is the general tract of CN IV?
Leaves cranium via superior orbital fissue and travels to superior oblique muscle
What is the only nerve that exits on the dorsal surface of the brainstem?
Trochlear Nerve (CN IV)
What is the function of CN IV?
What happens if this nerve is damaged?
Somatic Motor: Innervates Superior Oblique Muscle (depresses, internally rotates, and abducts the eye)
Paralysis of superior oblique, leading to strabismus (cross eyes)
Inability to look down when eye is adducted
Diplopia (double vision)
Cranial Nerve VI
What is this nerve?
What is it’s modality?
What is its origin?
Abducens Nerve
Somatic motor (GSE)
Pontine (abducens) nucleus in pons
What is the general tract of CN VI?
Leaves cranium through superior oribital fissue and travels to lateral retus muscle
What is the function of CN VI?
What happens if this nerve is damaged?
Somatic Motor: Innervates Lateral Rectus Muscle (abducts eye)
ABDUCENT NERVE PALSY
- No lateral eye movement (can’t abduct eye)
- diplopia (double vision)
Cranial Nerve V
What is this nerve?
What is its CNS origin?
Trigeminal Nerve
Lateral side of Pons
Derivatives of 1st pharyngeal arch
What are the divisions of CN V?
CN V1: Ophthalmic Branch of the Trigeminal Nerve
CN V2: Maxillary Branch of the Trigeminal Nerve
CN V3: Mandibular Branch of the Trigeminal Nerve
What is the tract of the CN V1 division?
Sensory fibers enter cranium via superior orbital fissue and travel to trigeminal ganglion before entering pons
superior orbital fissue -> trigeminal ganglion -> pons
What is the function of CN V1?
Sensory Afferent
Conducts sensory impulses from cornea, nose, forehead and anterior scalp
What is the pathway for CN V2
foramen rotundum -> trigeminal ganglion -> pons
What is the function of CN V2?
Sensory Afferent
Skin of face, lower eyelid, nasal mucosa, upper lip, cheeks, maxillary teeth
What is the pathway for CN V3
Sensory:
foramen ovale -> trigeminal ganglion -> pons
Motor:
Pons -> foramen ovale -> muscles
What is the function of CN V3?
Sensory Afferent
- Sensory Impulses for Anterior 2/3 of the tongue (sense not taste)
- Skin of mandible (chin), lower jaw, lower teeth; one-third from sensory fibers of auricle of ear
Visceral Efferent (Branchial Motor)
- Innervates muscles of mastiation
- Innervates mylohyoid, anterior belly of digastric muscle, tensor tympani, and tensor veli palatini