Cranial nerves

Dr. Offor
 Cranial Nerves

• 12 pairs

• There names indicate either there distribution

or there function
 Numbers and Names of Cranial
nerves
• I Olfactory • VII Facial
• II Optic • VIII Vestibulocochlear
• III Occulomotor • IX Glossopharyngeal
• IV Trochlear • X Vagus
• V Trigeminal • XI Accessory
• V1: Ophthalmic • Cranial part
• Spinal part
V2: Maxillary
• V3: Mandibular • XII Hypoglossal
• VI Abducent
OPENINGS RELATED TO CRANIAL NERVES
I Cribiform plate of ethmoid
II Optic Foramen & Canal
III
IV
Va Superior orbital fissure
VI
Vb Foramen Rotundum
Vc Foramen Ovale

VII Internal Acoustic Meatus (Stylomastoid foramen)

VIII Internal Acoustic Meatus
IX
X Jugular Foramen
XI
XII Hypoglossal Foramen
 CN I, II & VIII are
entirely sensory; CN
III, IV, VI, XI & XII
entirely motor;
remaining nerves are
mixed
 POINT OF EMMERGENCE
BTW MIDBRAIN & PONS

CN III & IV
LEVEL OF PONS

CN V
BTW PONS & MEDULLA
CN VI, VII & VIII
LEVEL OF MEDULLA

CN IX, X , XI & XII

 Functional Components of The
Cranial Nerves

• General Somatic Afferent (GSA):

• General Somatic Efferent (GSE):

• General Visceral Afferent (GVA):

• General Visceral Efferent (GVE):

 Functional Components of The Cranial Nerves

• Three additional:
– 1-Special Somatic Afferents (SSA):

– 2-Special Visceral Afferents (SVA):

– 3- Special Visceral Efferent (SVE):

NUCLEI OF CRANIAL NERVES
 LOCATION OF NUCLEI

III
IV In Midbrain
V (Mesencephalic Nucleus)
Motor nucleus
V
Main/Principal Sensory Nucleus In Pons
VI
VII

VIII At junction bet. Pons & medulla

IX
X
XI
XII In Medulla
 NUCLEI OF THE CRANIAL NERVES
• Nuclei present in the Midbrain
• Mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (V) - sensory
• Trochlear nucleus (IV)
• Oculomotor nucleus (III)
• Edinger-Westphal nucleus (III)
 NUCLEI OF THE CRANIAL NERVES
Nuclei present in the Pons
• Facial nucleus (VII)
• Abducens nucleus (VI)
• Trigeminal motor nucleus (V)
• Main trigeminal nucleus (V) - sensory
 NUCLEI OF THE CRANIAL NERVES
Nuclei present in the
medulla
• Hypoglossal nucleus
(XII)
• Nucleus of vagus
nerve (X)
• Inferior olivary nucleus
• Type: Olfactory
• Special sensory
• Function:
• Smell
• Type: Optic
• Special sensory

• Function:
• Vision
•
• Type: Occulomotor
• 1- Oculomotor Nucleus
• It lies at the level of the superior
colliculus.
2-Edinger-Westphal Nucleus, lies
close to the oculomotor nucleus.

Function:
Elevation of the upper eyelid,
Movements of eyeball,
Constriction of pupil and
Accommodation for near vision
 TROCHLEAR
• Trochlear nucleus
• Lies in the periaqueductal gray
of the midbrain
• Lesion results in:
– Lateral squint
– Ptosis
– Diplopia
 • Trigeminal Sensory Nucleus.
• It is formed of 3 subdivisions: TRIGEMINAL NUCLEI
• 1- Main trigeminal sensory
nucleus:
• Lies in pontine tegmentum close
to the entry of 5th CN.
 TRIGEMINAL
• 2- Mesencephalic Nucleus NEUCLEI
(sensory): extends rostrally
into the midbrain.
3. Trigeminal Motor nucleus TRIGEMINAL
• It lies in pontine NUCLEI
tegmentum medial to the
main sensory nucleus.
 Lesion:
Trigeminal
 Loss of general sensations
in the area of distribution,

 Paralysis of the muscles of

mastication
 Abducent

• Type:
• Motor
• Supplies: Lateral rectus.
• Function: moves the eye
laterally
• Lesion:
• diplopia, loss of movement of
the eye laterally beyond the
midpoint.
 Abducent
• Abducent Nucleus Nucleus
• Lies in caudal Pons beneath
the floor of the 4th ventricle.
• Type:
• Motor, Sensory, Facial

• Lesion:
• Bell’s palsy,
• loss of taste from anterior 2/3 of
tongue,
• loss of salivation
• It consists of two roots: FACIALNUCLEI
• 1- Lateral root, (contains sensory
fibers).
• 2- Medial root contains motor
fibers
• Motor nucleus of facial nerve
• It lies in the caudal Pons. FACIAL NUCLEI
• The axons, loops around abducens
nucleus beneath the floor of 4th
ventricle.
 Bell’s Palsy
• Damage to facial nerve results in
paralysis of facial muscles:
• Type: Vestibulo-cochlear
• Special sensory

• 2 Parts Functions
differently:
– Vestibular part:
– Cochlear part:

– Lesion: loss of hearing

• Type:
• Motor, Sensory Glossopharyngeal
• Function:
• carries taste fibers from
posterior 1/3 of tongue,
general sensations from
pharynx & palate.

• Lesion:
• Dysphagia
• Type:
Vagus
• Motor , Sensory

• Function:
 supplies visceral
muscles, glands of GIT,
muscles of the larynx
and pharynx, taste buds
on the posterior 1/3 of
tongue
• Lesion Leads to:
– Difficulty in swallowing
– Loss of taste from the
base of tongue
– Hoarseness or loss of
voice
– Gastrointestinal
dysfunction
• Type:
• Motor,
Accessory
• It has two parts:
– cranial & spinal
• Type:
• Motor Hypoglossal
• Function:
• Motor to all muscles of the
tongue except palatoglossus.

• Allows movements of tongue

during speech and
swallowing

• Lesion: difficulty in chewing

and speech.

• The tongue atrophies,

becomes shrunken on the
affected side,
 Lesion of Cranial Nerves

Causes:
 Severe head injuries, skull bone fractures or
penetrating wounds
 Brain lesions
 Compression due to raised intracranial
pressure (due to any space occupying lesion
e.g. tumor, hematoma, or CSF obstruction )
 Cavernous sinus thrombosis
 Mnemonic Aids for Cranial Nerves

• On Old Olympus Towering Tops A Famous Vocal German

Viewed Some Hops
• Olfactory, Optic, Oculomotor, Trochlear, Trigeminal,
Abducens, Facial, Vestibulocochlear, Glossopharyngeal, Vagus,
Spinal Accessory (Accessory), Hypoglossal
• Oh. Oh. Ooh...To Touch And Feel Very Green Vegetables...A
H !!!
• Oh, once one takes the anatomy final- very good vacations
are heavenly!
Mnemonic Aids for Cranial Nerves

OLd
Opinions
OCcasionally
TRies
TRIGonometry
And
Feels
VEry
GLOomy
VAGUe
And
HYPOactive
 Mnemonic Aids for Sensory and /or
Motor Functions of Cranial Nerves

• Some Say Marry Money, But My Brother Says Big Brain

Matters More

• The first letter of each word signifies whether the particular

cranial nerve is sensory only (S); motor (M); or both sensory
and motor (B)
 Review Question
Paralysis of muscles with a resultant loss of the ability
to speak could indicate damage to the
___________ nerve.
(a) Accessory
(b) Glossopharyngeal
(c) Vagus
(d) Trigeminal
(e) Facial