Lecture 6 - Cranial Nerves I-VI Flashcards
How many cranial nerves are there??
XII (12)
Generally what do the cranial nerves supply?
Tissues and structures around th head and neck
How do cranial nerves differ to spinal nerves in terms of types of nerve fibres?
Cranial nerves can have different types of fibres (sensory and motor, just sensory, just motor)
Some carry just parasympathetic functions
Spinal nerves are always a mix of sensory and motor
Where abouts can cranial nerves get damaged due to an injury or lesion?
Cranial nerve during route outside of CNS
Brainstem (where the cranial nerve nuceli located)
Neurones within forebrain/brainstem which connect to other part of brain to cranial nerve
What is the way to remember where the cranial nerves arise from?
Remember 2,2,4,4
Where do the cranial nerves arise from using the 2,2,4,4 topography?
2 from forebrain
2 from midbrain
4 pons
4 medulla
What cranial nerves arise from the forebrain?
I
II
What cranial nerves arise from the midbrain?
III
IV
What cranial nerves arise from the pons?
V
VI
VII
VIII
What cranial nerves arise from the medulla?
IX
X
XI
XII
What is the name of Cranial nerve I?
Olfactory nerve
What function does Cranial nerve I (olfactory nerve) have?
Purely sensory
Smell/olfaction
What is the term for absence or reduced sense of smell?
Anosmia
What is the most common cause of anosmia/loss of taste?
Upper respiratory tract infection
How does an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection lead to anosmia/loss of smell/test?
Nasal mucosa swells preventing chemicals from reaching the olfactory nerve
How does the olfactory nerves run through the base of the skull?
Runs through the cribriform foramina with the olfactory bulb sitting above
What bone are the cribriform formaina located in which conduct the olfactory nerves?
The cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone
What is the route from stimulus to brain for olfaction?
Olfactory mucosa (olfactory receptors) -> olfactory nerves -> olfactory bulb -> olfactory tract -> temporal lobe
What are 2 ways by which anosmia can be caused?
Head/facial injury (impact)
Anterior cranial fossa tumours
How can a head injury lead to loss of olfaction (anosmia)?
Impact can lead to the olfactory nerves shearing as they pass through the cribriform foramina
How can an anterior cranial fossa tumour lead to anosmia?
Tumour compresses olfactory bulb or olfactory tract
How can I remember that cranial nerve I is the olfactory nerve?
There’s I nose, cranial nerve I
What is the name of Cranial Nerve II?
Optic nerve
How can i remember what Cranial nerve II is?
Optic nerve for the eyes, 2 eyes CN II
What surrounds the optic nerve (II)?
Therefore what can affect it?
3 meningeal layers surround it
Cranial nerve II can therefore be affectd by raised Intracranial pressure