Session 5 - cranial nerves Flashcards
where do cranial nerves arise from
brainstem
what does the brain stem regulate
cardio-respiratory functions
maintains consiousness
what does the brain stem continue as when it passes though the foramen magnum
spinal cord
what is nuclei
collection of cell bodies of nerve fibres that make up the whole cranial nerve
which cranial nerves arise from the forebrain
olfactory
optic
which cranial nerves arise from the midbrain
occulomotor
trochlear
which cranial nerves arise from the pons
trigeminal
abducens
facial
vestibulocochlear
which cranial nerves arise from the medulla
glossopharyngeal
vagus
accesory
hypoglossal
what axons does cranial nerve I olfactory carry
and what is its function
what is its route
special sensory
smell
olfactory region of nasal cavity- cribriform foramina- olfactory bulb- olfactory tracts- forebrain
how can the olfactory nerve be tested
test one nostril at a time
use smelling salts
what is anosmia
what is the most common cause of anosmia
loss of sense of smell
common cold
what axons does cranial nerve II optic carry
and what is its function
what is its route
special sensory
vision
takes signals from the retina, passes through the optic canal. the optic fibres from the left and cross over at the chiasma. from the optic chiasma they go along the optic tracts to the primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe
originate from the forebrain
how can the optic nerve be tested
visual test (snellen chart and visual fields) testing pupils responses and reflexes using pen torches
why does the optic nerve swell when there is raised intracranial pressure
and what clinical sign does this present as
the optic nerve carries extensions of meninges
presents as papillodema
why might you get bitemporal hemianopia
pituitary tumors compress the optic chiasm
what axons does cranial nerve III occulomotor carry
and what is its function
what is its route
motor
and carries some autonomic parasympathetic fibres
motor function - innervates most of the extra occular muscles and levator palpibrae superioris (muscle thag keeps eyelid open)
autonomic- sphincter pupillae, whcih constrcits to make the pupil smaller
and ciliary muscle, which changes the shape of the lens
orginates in the mid brain and travels in the cavernous sinus and through the superior orbital fissure to the orbit
why might the occulomotor nerve get compressed
increased intracranial pressure can cause the uncus of the temporal bone to slip over the edge of the tentorium cerebelli, as the occulomotor nerve runs just at the edge of the tentorium cerebelli this squashes the occulomotor nerve
of the occulomotor nerve undergoes compression which function is first to go and why
how would a patient present
the parasympathetic functions
the parasympathetic fibres sit around the periphery of the occulomotor nerve
so the innervation to the pupil is lost and this is shown as blown or fixed dilated pupil
how can you test the occulomotor nerve
inspection of eyelids and pupils and eye movements
test the pupillary light reflexes
how does the pupil look in severe ptosis
down and out position
what axons does cranial nerve IV trochlear carry
and what is its function
what is its route
motor
supplies the extra orbital muscles superior oblique
midbrain, then through the cavernous sinus and out the superior orbital fissure into the orbit (runs along with the occulomotor nerve)
which cranial nerve is the only nerve to emerge through the dorsal aspect of the brainstem
trochlear nerve IV
has the longest intracranial course
how do you test the trochlear nerve
eye movements (also tests III,VI)
How might patient correct damage to the trochlear nerve
they get diplopia which worse on downward gaze
corrected by tilting their hear