Cranial Nerves

9,10,11,12

Dr AMBiLi. P
Govt Medical college, Kozhikode
Mid brain
Pons
Medulla
 Last 4 cranial nerves
• Glossopharyngeal, Vagus, Spinal accessory and
Hypoglossal Nerves

• Emerge out from medulla oblongata

• Nuclei of origin – Medulla

• 9, 10 and 11 –
posterior to olive

• 12 – in front of olive

Olive
 • Course
– Brain stem – Cranial Foramen

– Cranial cavity – Extra cranial

• 9,10 & 11 – Jugular Foramen

IX
X FM
XI

XII
 Glossopharyngeal Nerve
• Emerges from – Behind the olive
(posterolateral sulcus) of medulla

• Exits through – Jugular Foramen

• Superior & Inferior Ganglia close

to Jugular Foramen
• Outside
– Between IJV and ICA
– between ICA and ECA
• Deep to Styloid process

• Enters Pharynx (along with Stylopharyngeus)

• Reaches Tongue (sensory supply)

• Glosso Pharyngeal Nerve

= Pharyngo Lingual Nerve
• Mainly sensory

• Except
– to Stylopharyngeus
– to Parotid gland

• Nerve of 3rd Pharyngeal

arch
 Branches
• Tympanic branch
• Carotid branch
• Pharyngeal branches
• Tonsillar branches
• Lingual branches

• Motor – Stylopharyngeus
• Secretomotor – Parotid gland
 Distribution
• Tympanic plexus – Tympanic cavity (middle
ear). also Auditory tube and mastoid air cells

• Lesser petrosal nerve – Otic Ganglion (Pre

Ganglionic fibres to Parotid gland)

• Carotid Nerve – carotid plexus – Carotid sinus

and Carotid body (Baroreceptor and
Chemoreceptor)
 Distribution
• Pharyngeal branches – pharyngeal
plexus

• Tonsillar – palatine tonsil & soft palate

• Lingual br – posterior 1/3 of tongue

(behind Sulcus Terminalis)
(both general sensation and taste)
– also circumvallate papillae
Summary
Testing Glossopharyngeal N

• Gag Reflex
– touch the pharyngeal mucosa
– reflex contraction of pharyngeal muscles
– IX N afferent limb of the reflex

• Taste sensation of posterior 1/3 of tongue

Thank You