CRANIAL

NERVES

INDRANI S
 INTRODUCTIO
N
 The 12 pairs of cranial nerves arise from the
brain inside the cranial cavity and pass through
various foramina in the bones of the cranium.
 Cranial nerves divides into three functions:
 Sensory nerves
 Motor nerves
 Mixed nerves
SENSORY NERVES: Olfactory
nerve,Optic nerve,vestibulo cochlear
nerve
MOTOR NERVES: Oculomotor
nerve,Trochlear nerve,Abducens
nerve,accessory nerve,Hypoglossal
nerve
MIXED NERVES: Trigeminal nerve,Facial
nerve,Glossopharyngeal nerve,Vagus
nerve
OLFACTORY
NERVE(I)
OLFACTORY(I):
oComponent: sensory
oFunction: smell
oOrigin: olfactory receptor nerve cell
oOpening to the skull: Openings in
cribriform plate of ethmoid bone on
each side of the nose.
OPTIC NERVE(II)
OPTIC NERVE(II):
oComponent:sensory
oFunction:vision
oorigin:from the back of the eyeball.
oOpening to the skull: to the optic canal
OCULOMOTOR
NERVE(III)
OCULOMOTOR NERVE(III):
Oculo=eye ; motor= a mover
ocomponent: motor
oOrigin : from the anterior part of the midbrain.
oOpening to the skull: pass through the supra orbital
fissure into the orbit.
oFunctions :
• Raises upper eyelid
• Movement of eyeball
• Pupil constriction
• Eye accommodation
TROCLEAR NERVE
TROCLEAR NERVE(IV):
trochle= a pulley
Trochlear is the smallest of all the 12
cranial nerves.
ocomponent:motor
oOrigin : posterior surface of mid brain.
oOpening to skull:superior orbital
fissure
oFunction:involves in movement of
eyeball downward and laterally.
TRIGEMINAL NERVE(V)

Ophthalmic nerve
Maxillary nerve
Mandibular nerve
OPHTHALMIC NERVE:
oComponent: sensory
oOrigin: anterior aspect of pons
oOpening to the skull: superior orbital
fissure
oFunctions:
•Cornea
•Skin of fore head
•Eyelids and nose
•Mucous membranes of paranasal sinuses
and nasal cavity
•Scalp
Opthalmic nerve again has three branches:
Frontal nerve:supplies to
upperlid,frontalis,scalp,conjunctiva,forehead
Lacrimal nerve: supplies to lacrimal gland,
conjunctiva,and upperlid
Nasociliary nerve: supplies to
cornea ,iris,ciliary body, upperlids,nose
bridge,conjunctiva.
MAXILLARY NERVE :
oComponent: sensory
oOrigin: anterior aspect of pons
oOpening to skull: foramen ovale
oFunction:
Skin of the face over maxilla
Teeth of upperjaw
Mucous membrane of the nose , the maxillary
sinus and palate
MANDIBULAR NERVE:
oComponent: motor & sensory
oorigin: anterior aspect of pons
oOpening to the skull: foramen rotundum
o Function:
Muscles of mastication
Mylohoid
Anterior belly of digastric
Tensor veli palatine
Tensor tympani
Skin of cheek
Teeth of lower jaw
ABDUCENT
NERVE
ABDUCENT NERVE(VI):
Ab= away; ducens= to lead
oComponent: motor
oOrigin: medulla oblongata
oOpening to the skull: superior orbital fissure
oFunction: lateral rectus muscle turns eyeball
laterally
FACIAL NERVE
FACIAL NERVE(VII):
oComponent: mixed
oOrigin: medulla oblongata
oOpening to the skull: internal acoustic
meatus ,facial canal,stylomastoid foramen
oFunction:
Motor
• Muscles of the face and scalp
• Stapedius muscle
• Posterior belly of digastric
• Stylohyoid muscles
oFunction:
Sensory
• Taste from anterior 2/3 of tounge, from the
floor of the mouth and palate
oFunction:
Secretomotor
• Submandibular and sublingual salivary glands
• Lacrimal gland
• Glands of nose and palate
VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR
NERVE
VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR NERVE(VIII):
vestibulo= small cavity; cochlear=spiral, snail-
like
oComponent: sensory
oOrigin: medulla oblongata
oOpening to the skull: internal acoustic meatus
oFunction:
It has two branches
1. Vestibular branch- carries impulses for
equilibrium
2. Cochlear branch- carries impulse for hearing
GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL
NERVE
GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL NERVE(IX):
oComponent: mixed
oOrigin: medulla oblongata
oOpening to the skull: jugular foramen
oFunction:
motor
• Stylopharyngeus muscle- assists swallowing
sensory
• General sensation and taste from post. ½ of the
tounge and pharynx
• Carotis sinus and carotid body
• secretomotor
• Parotid gland
VAGUS NERVE
VAGUS NERVE(x):
oComponent: motor
oOrigin: medulla oblongata
oOpening to the skull: jugular foramen
oFunction:
• Heart and great thoracic blood vessels
• Larynx, trachea, bronchi and lungs
• Alimentary tract from pharynx to spenic
flexure of colon
• Liver , kidney , pancreas
ACCESSORY
NERVE
ACCESSORY NERVE(XI):
oComponent: motor
oOrigin: medulla oblongata
oOpening to the skull: jugular foramen
oFunction:
It is divided into two branches
• Cranial accessory nerve:
-Muscles of soft palate
- muscles of pharynx
-Muscles of larynx
• spinal accessory nerve:
- Sternocleidomastoid and trapezious muscle
HYPOGLOSSAL
NERVE
HYPOGLOSSAL NERVE(XII):
hypo= below; glossal = tongue
oComponent: motor
oOrigin: medulla oblongata
oOpening to the skull: hypoglossal canal
oFunction:
• Muscles of tongue
DYSFUNCTIONS
OF NERVES
Dysfunction of olfactory nerve:
ANOSMIA-
loss of sense of smell
Causes: due to head injuries, lesions along the
olfactory pathway or in brain ,smoking or
cocain use.
DYSFUNCTION OF OPTIC NERVE:
ANOPIA-
Blindness due to a defect in or loss of one or both eyes is
called anopia.
DYSFUNCTION OF OCULOMOTOR NERVE:

STRABISMUS

PTOSIS
DYSFUNCTION OF TROCHLEAR NERVE
AND ABDUCENS NERVE:

DIPLOPIA
DYSFUNCTION OF FACIAL NERVE:

BELLS ‘ PALSY
DYSFUNCTION OF
VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR NERVE:
VERTIGO- a
feeling that one ‘s own body or the
environment rotating
Ataxia- muscular incordination
Nystagmus- involuntary rapid movement of
eyeball
Tinnitus- ringing in the ears or deafness
Dysfunction of glossopharyngeal nerve:
Dysfunction of vagus nerve: gastroparesis
DYSFUNCTION OF ACCESSORY
NERVE:
Impaired movements of neck, shoulder
DYSFUNCTION OF HYPOGLOSSAL
NERVE:
Dysarthria-difficult of speaking
Dysphagia- difficult of swallowing
REFERENCE:
[1]Tortora GJ, Derrickson B. Anatomy & Physiology.
Wiley India Pvt Limited; 2014.