Peripheral Nervous System (Cranial Nerves, Spinal Nerves, Nerve Plexus) Flashcards
What is the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?
collection of nerve fibers and ganglia
What are ganglia?
aggregations of neuronal cell bodies
What are the components of the PNS?
- 12 pairs of cranial nerves
- 31 pairs of spinal nerves
- autonomic (visceral) nerve fibers
- associated sensory and autonomic ganglia
Cranial Nerves
What are the first 2 pairs of cranial nerves?
extensions of the cerebrum
Cranial Nerves
What are the last 10 pairs of cranial nerves?
their nuclei are within the brainstem
Cranial Nerves
What type of nuclei are in the last 10 pairs of the cranial nerves?
- sensory
- motor
- autonomic (parasympathetic)
Cranial Nerves
What is the sensory nuclei of the cranial nerves equivalent to in the spinal cord?
posterior horn
Cranial Nerves
What is the motor nuclei of the cranial nerves equivalent to in the spinal cord?
anterior horn
Cranial Nerves
What is the parasympathetic nuclei of the cranial nerves comparable to in the spinal cord?
lateral horn in S2-S4 segments
Cranial Nerves
What are the sensory ganglia of the cranial nerves similar to in the spinal nerves?
similar to dorsal root ganglia of spinal nerves
Cranial Nerves
Where do cranial nerves pass through?
different openings at the base of the neurocranium
Cranial Nerves
Where are all the cranial nerves?
distributed in the head and neck
EXCEPT: CN X (vagus), which distributes in the thorax and abdomen too
CN I
- name
- components
- function
- opening of skull
Name: olfactory
Components: sensory
Function: olfaction
Opening of the Skull: cribriform plate of ethmoid bone
CN II
- name
- components
- function
- opening of skull
Name: optic
Components: sensory
Function: vision
Opening of the Skull: optic canal
CN III
- name
- components
- function
- opening of skull
Name: oculomotor
Components: motor and autonomic
Function: 5 of the extra ocular muscles, ciliary muscle, and sphincter pupil
Opening of the Skull: superior orbital fissure
CN IV
- name
- components
- function
- opening of skull
Name: trochlear
Components: motor
Function: one of the extra ocular muscles
Opening of the Skull: superior orbital fissure
CN V: Trigeminal - first division
- name
- components
- function
- opening of skull
Name: opthalmic division
Components: sensory
Function: mainly cornea, skin of anterior scalp, upper eyelids, and nose
Opening of the Skull: superior orbital fissure
CN V: Trigeminal - second division
- name
- components
- function
- opening of skull
Name: maxillary division
Components: sensory
Function: mainly skin of face between lower eyelid and upper lip, nasal cavity, nasopharynx, upper teeth, and palates
Opening of the Skull: foramen rotundum
CN V: Trigeminal - third division
- name
- components
- function
- opening of skull
Name: mandibular division
Components: sensory and motor
Function: mainly skin covering the mandible and lateral scalp, lower teeth, oral cavity (except palates), and muscles of mastication
Opening of the Skull: foramen ovale
CN VI
- name
- components
- function
- opening of skull
Name: abducent
Components: motor
Function: one of the extra ocular muscles
Opening of the Skull: superior orbital fissure
CN VII
- name
- components
- function
- opening of skull
Name: facial
Components: sensory, motor, and autonomic
Function: tase of the anterior 2/3’s of the tongue, muscles of facial expression, submandibular, sublingual, and lacrimal glands
Opening of the Skull: internal acoustic (auditory) meatus
CN VIII
- name
- components
- function
- opening of skull
Name: vestibulocochlear
Components: sensory
Function: hearing and balance
Opening of the Skull: internal acoustic (auditory) meatus
CN IX
- name
- components
- function
- opening of skull
Name: glossopharyngeal
Components: sensory, motor, and autonomic
Function:
- taste and general sensation of the posterior 1/3 of the tongue, stylopharyngeus msucle
- general sensation of the oropharynx, carotid sinus, and carotid body
Opening of the Skull: jugular foramen
CN X
- name
- components
- function
- opening of skull
Name: vagus
Components: sensory, motor, and autonomic
Function:
- general sensation of larynx, laryngopharynx, and trachea, pharyngeal muscles (except stylopharyngeus),
- parasympathetic innervation of lungs, heaart, and parts of gastrointestinal tract
Opening of the Skull: jugular foramen
CN XI
- name
- components
- function
- opening of skull
Name: accessory
Components: motor
Function: sternocleidomastoid and trapezius
Opening of the Skull: jugular foramen
CN XII
- name
- components
- function
- opening of skull
Name: hypoglossal
Components: motor
Function: muscles of the tongue (except palatoglossus)
Opening of the Skull: hypoglossal canal
Spinal Nerves
Where do spinal nerves leave the vertebral canal?
through the corresponding foramina
Spinal Nerves
What are spinal nerves associated with?
segments of the spinal cord
Spinal Nerves
How is each spinal nerve connected to the spinal cord?
by ventral (anterior) root and dorsal (posterior) root
Spinal Nerves
What do ventral roots arise from?
What do they carry?
ventral horn of spinal cord
carries motor (efferent) fibers
Spinal Nerves
What do dorsal roots arise from?
What do they carry?
dorsal horn of spinal cord
carries sensory (afferent) fibers
Spinal Nerves
What type of nerve is the spinal nerve? Why?
mixed (motor and sensory) nerve
it is formed by the union of the motor (ventral) and sensory (dorsal) roots
Spinal Nerves
When do spinal nerves split?
What do they split into?
immediately after emerging from the vertebral canal
splits into ventral (anterior) and dorsal (dorsal) ramus/branch
Spinal Nerves
What are somatic nerve plexuses?
present in cervical, lumbar, and sacral regions
formed by ventral (anterior) rami
Spinal Nerves
Are ventral or dorsal rami thicker?
ventral
Spinal Nerves
What are the intercostal nerves?
ventral rami of thoracic spinal nerves T1-T11
Spinal Nerves
What is the subcostal nerve?
ventral ramus of thoracic spinal nerve T12
Spinal Nerves
Do intercostal nerves form a distinct nerve plexus?
no
Spinal Nerves
What do dorsal rami supply?
paravertebral musculature and the overlying skin
Spinal Nerves
Where does the spinal cord end?
at the level of vertebra LI-LII
since the spinal cord ends there, ventral and dorsal roots of the lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal spinal nerves descend to the respective foramina before emerging from the vertebral canal
Spinal Nerves
What is the cauda equina (horse’s tail)?
bundle of roots
since the spinal cord ends at the level of vertebra LI-LII, ventral and dorsal roots of the lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal spinal nerves descend to the respective foramina before emerging from the vertebral canal