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Cranial nerves

Cranial nerves

  • Arise direct from the brain

Nerve
 Origin / Nucleus Course
 Function
Olfactory   Nerve fibres dangle through cribiform plate
  • Olfaction
Optic (para)  
  • Vision
  • Pupillary light responses (direct and consensual)
Oculomotor    
  • Supplies Levator palpebrae superioris (also supplied by post-ganglionic sympathetic fibres to Muller's muscle from superior cervical ganglion)
Trochlear    
  • SO4
Trigeminal  
  1. Sup.orbital fissure - V1
  2. F.rotundum - V2
  3. F.ovale - V3
  
Abducens    
  • LR6
Facial (para)
  • Facial n.nucleus
  • Superficial salivatory nucleus
  • Nucleus solitarius
  1. Arises from brainstem (Medulla + FN, SSN,NS)
  2. Enters internal acoustic meatus with VIII (vestibulocochlear nerve) - petrous part of temporal bone
  3. Traverses facial canal
  4. Exits through stylomastoid foramen
  5. Passes through substance of parotid gland
  6. 5 terminal branches - TZBMC
  1. Motor
    • Stapedius, posterior digastricus
    • 5 divisions
  2. Secretomotor
    • Via greater superficial petrosal nerve to lacrimal, nasal and palatine glands
  3. Taste
    • Chorda tympani to anterior 2/3 of tongue
  4. Sensory
    • Nervus intermedius / pars intermedia of Wrisberg to anterior wall of external auditory meatus
Vestibulocochlear      
Glossopharyngeal (para)      
Vagus (para)      
Accessory      
Hypoglossal      

Brainstem Nuclei

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