CRANIAL NERVES

Recommended video : Cranial Nerve Basic, 3D Tutorial

Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFp_qNifHzw&t=71s
lingual nerve & chorda tympani
(from CNV)
CN I: OLFACTORY NERVE

Arise from olfactory receptor nerve cells in olfactory

mucous membrane located at upper part of nasal
cavity, above level of superior concha (Figure A)

Olfactory receptor cells are scattered among

supporting cells, it is bipolar type with cilias called
olfactory hairs
- Respond to chemical stimulation of odorant
molecules
Fine central processes form the olfactory nerve
fibres pass through the cribriform plate of ethmoid
bone to the olfactory bulb

- Olfactory nerves fibers are unmyelinated and

covered with Schwann cells
Bulb
- ovoid structure posses several type of nerve cells
- olfactory nerve fibers synapses with the dendrites
of mitral cell and formed rounded area called as
synaptic glomeruli
Olfactory tract:
bundle of afferent nerve fibers from the mitral and tufted cells of the olfactory bulb that connects to several target
regions in the brain, including the piriform cortex, amygdala, and entorhinal cortex. It is a narrow white band,
triangular on coronal section, the apex being directed upward.
At anterior perforated substance it divides into medial and lateral olfactory striae
Medial – carry fiber that crosses median plane in anterior commisure to pass to olfactory bulb of contralateral side
Lateral – carry axon to olfactory area of primary olfactory cortex in cerebral cortex -> secondary olfactory cortex
Disorder : anosmia. If lesion at the tract produce contalateral anosmia
 CN II: OPTIC NERVE
Origin: axon cells in ganglionic
layer ot the retina, converge on the
optic disc, exit eye nasal side of
centre → OPTIC NERVE
Fiber od optic nerve are myelinated
but sheaths are from
oligodendrocytes.
unites with opposite side forming the
OPTIC CHIASMA
 Situated at junction of anterior
wall & floor of the 3rd ventricle.
Here the nasal half cross midline to
opposite side, temporal pass
posteriorly in the optic tract of the
same side
 LATERAL GENICULATE BODY is a small, oval
swelling projecting from the pulvinar of the
thalamus, consists of 6 layer of cells on which
synapses the axons from the optic tract. It
leaves to form optic radiation
OPTIC RADIATION passes posteriorly through
the retrolenticular part of the internal
capsule and terminates in visual cortex (area
17)- upper and lower lips of calcarin sulcus on
the medial surface of the cerebral
hemisphere. The visual association cortex
(18&19- recognition of objects & colour.

VISUAL PATHWAY LESION

 VISUAL REFLEXES

 Light reflexes
 Accomodation Reflexes
 Corneal reflexes
 Light touching of cornea
or conjunctiva cause the
eye to blink
 Afferent impulse →
opthalmic division of the
trigeminal nerve → sensory
nucleus → internuncial
neuron connect with motor
nucleus of facial nerve to
orbicularis oculi →closure
of lids
Visual body reflexes
 automatic scanning movement of eyes and head eg during

reading/head movement near object/ close eye protectively

 visual impulses follow optic pathway to superior colliculi ->

relayed to tectospinal & tectobulbar tracts & neurons of ant

gray column of spinal cord &cranial motor nuclei
CN III: OCCULOMOTOR NERVE
Pure motor, had 2 nuclei
1) main motor nucleus- located at ant part
of grey matter that surrounds cerebral
aqueduct of midbrain at level of sup colliculus.
Supplies all the extrinsic muscle of eye except
superior oblique & lateral rectus.
Outgoing fibres past ant through the red nuc
&emerge on ant surface of midbrain in the
interpeduncular fossa.
Receives corticonuclear fibres from both
cerebral hemispheres (visual cortex), medial
longitudinal fasciculus (connected to CN IV, VI
& VIII)
2) Accessory parasympathetic nucleus
(Edinger-westphal nucleu)- post to the main
occulomotor nu.
The preganglionic axons accompany other
occulomotr fibres to the orbit where they
synapse in the ciliary ganglion
&postganglionic fibres pass through the short
ciliary nerve to the constrictor pupillae of iris
& ciliary muscle
Receives corticonulear fibres for
accommodation & pretectal nucleus fr direct &
consensual light reflexes
Course:
emerges from the ant surface of the midbrain passes forward between the post cerebral & sup cerebellar
arteriesmiddle cranial fossa in lat wall of cavernous sinus divides into superior & inf ramus orbital
cavity through the sup orbital fissure

Supplies:
Levator palpebrae superioris, sup, medial, inf recti &inf oblique mm. Branches to ciliary ganglion & short
ciliary nv.
Function: lifting upper eyelid, turn eye upward, downward, medially, constricting pupil &accomodating the
eye
 CN IV: TROCHLEAR NERVE
Pure motor nerve
Location:
 Ant part of grey atter surrounding the
cerebral aqueduct of the midbrain, inferior to
the CN III @ level of inf colliculus, fibres pass
posteriory around central grey matter to
posterior surface of Midbrain
Receives corticonuclear fibres from both
cerebral hemispheres, tectobulbar (visual
cortex) through sup. Colliculus &fibres from the
medial longitudinal fasciculus (CN III, VI &VIII)
Course:
The most slender of the CN, the only one
to leave the posterior surface of the
brainstem and immediately decussates
with the nerve of opposite side
Passes through the middle cranial fossa in
the lat wall of cavernous sinus & enters
the orbit throug the sup orbital fissure
Supplies the sup oblique muscle of the
eye- turning eye downward & laterally
 CN V:TRIGEMINAL NERVE
Largest CN, mixed, had 4 nucleus
1) main sensory nucleus
At post part of the pons, lat to
the motor nucleus. Continuous with
spinal nucleus
2)Spinal nucleus
Extends inferiorly trough the
whole lenght of the medulla
oblongata & into the upper part
of spinal cord til C2
3)Mesencephalic nucleus
Column of unipolar nerse cells in
lat part of grey matter around
cerebral aqueduct extends till
main sensory nuc
4)Motor nucleus
 SENSORY COMPONENT
Pain, touch, temperature &pressure of face
& mucous membrane travels along axons
whose cell bodies are in semilunar or
trigeminal sensory ganglion whose central
processes form the large sensory root of CN
V
½ divide into ascending &descending
branches when enter the pons.
Ascending branches terminate in the main
sensory nuc. (touch & pressure)
Descending branches terminate in the spinal
nuc. (pain &temperature)
Termination: from opthalmic division- inf part
of spinal nuc; maxillary- middle;
mandibular- superior of spinal nuc.
Proprioceptive impulse from mm of
mastication & from facial & extrocular
mm are carried by sensory root of CN V
that have bypassed the semilunar
ganglion
The fibre’s cell origin- unipolar cells
called mesencephalic nucleus
Axons of all 3 cross median plane &
ascend the trigeminal lemniscus &
terminate on the nerve cells of the
ventral posteromedial nuc of the
thalamuIC postcentral gyrus (3,1,&
2) of cerebral cortex
4) Motor component:

Motor nuc receives corticonuclear fibres from both

cerebral hemispheres &reticular formation, red
nucleus, tectum & medial longitudinal fasciculus

Forming monosynaptic arc by receiving fibres from

mesencephalic nuc.

Supplies: mm of mastication, tensor tympani,

tensor veli palatini, mylohyoid & ant belly of
digatric mm
Course:
Leave nterior aspect of pons as small motor root & large sensory root
pases forward out of post cranial fossa large sensory root expands to
form crescent shaped trigeminal ganglion (in dura mater- trigeminal/
Meckel’s cave)
Anterior borderophthalmic (pure sensory), maxillary (pure sensory) &
mandibular (mixed)
CN IV: ABDUCENT NERVE

Supply lateral rectus muscle of the eye

Location:
Beneath the floor of upper part of the 4th
ventricle, close to midline &beneath the
colliculus facialis- small motor nucleus
Afferent: both cerebral hemisphere,
tectobulbar tract (superior colliculus) &
medial longitudinal fasciculus (CN III, IV
& VIII)
Course:
Pass anteriorly through pons groove
lower border of pos & medulla
oblongata forward through cavernous
sinus, below &lateral to internal carotid
artery orbit via superior orbital fissure
Supplies lateral retus muscle, turning eye
laterally
CN VII: FACIAL NV
Mixed motor and sensory
Had 3 nuclei:
1) main motor
Deep in reticular formation of lower part of
the pons, afferent from both cerebral
hemispheres supplies mm upper part of face;
nuc that supplies lower part of face receives
afferent only from the opposite cerebral
hemisphere (voluntary control)
Mimetic/ emotional changes are involuntary
part of reticular formation
Supplies: mm of facial expression, auricular
mm, stapedius, post belly of digastric &
stylohyoid mm
2) paraympathetic:nuclei
posterolateral to main motor nucleus:
A) superior salivatory – afferent from
hypothalamus through descending
autonomic pathways & concerning taste
from nusleus of solitary tract from mouth
cavity (submandibular & sublingual
salivary glands)
B) lacrimal nuc- afferent fibres from
hypothalamus for emotional response &
sensory nuclei of trigeminal nv for reflex
lacrimation (lacrimal gland)
3)sensory nucleus
Location: Upper part of nucleus
of the tractus solitarius, close to
motor nucleus
From: ant 2/3rd tongue, floor of
mouth & palate.
Sensations of taste travel through
peripheral axons of nerve cells in
geniculate ganglion of CN VII,
their central processes synapses
in nucleus nucleus.
Efferent fibres cross median
plane & ascend to the ventral
posterior medial nucleus of the
COURSE
Motor root:
Posteriorly around medial side of
abducent nuc, pass around the
nuceus beneath colliculus facialis in
floor of 4th ventricle anteriorly
to emerge from brainstem
Sensory root / nevus intermediues
(is formed of central processes of
unipolar cells of geniculate
ganglion + efferent from
parasympathetic nuc)
Between pons+medulla
oblongata passed laterally in
post cranial fossa with
CN VIII: VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR NV
 CN VIII: VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR NV

Function:
Vestibular nerve conduct
Impulse from utricle & saccule
regading position of head;
from semicircular canal
regarding movement of head
Vestibular ganglion in int
acoustic meatus, enter ant
surface of brainstem in
groove between lower
border of pons & upper
part of MO.
Divide into short ascending
&long descending fibres in
the vestibular nuc complex.
 Efferent fiber pass to the cerebellum through inferior cerebellar peduncle.
 Efferenf fiber also descends uncrossed to the spinal cord from lateral vestibular nucleus and
form vestibularspinal tract
 Efferent fiber also pass through med long fasciculus to nuc of CNIII, IV &VI-
 coordinate head movement, maintain visual fixation, from inner ear maintain balance by
influencing muscle tone of limbs &trunk
 Conscious orientation in space- ascending fibres upward to cerebral cortes (vestibular area)
in postcentral gyrus relay in ventral pot nuc of thalamus
COCHLEAR BRANCH
Carry impulse for hearing
Sensory axon arise in the spiral
organ (Organ of Corti) in the
cohclea of inner ear
Impulses  anterior surface of
brainstem to lower border of
pons on the lat side of the
emerging facial nerve (which
separtes in from the vestibular
nv)
COURSE
Leave ant surface of brain
between pons &medulla, run
laterally on post cranial fossa &
enter internal acoustic meatus
with facial nerve then distributed
to different parts of int ear
CN IX: GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL NV
Mixed sensory and motor nerve
3 nuclei
1) main motor nucleus:
Lies deep in reticular formation
of medulla oblongata
Formed by superior end of
nucleus ambiguus
Receives corticonuclear fibers
from both cerebral hemispheres
& supplies efferent to
stylopharyngeus mm
2) parasympathetic nucleus/
inferior salivatory nucleus
Affarent from hypothalamus
through descending autonomic
pathways
Receives info from olfactory
system through the reticular
formation.
Also receives info re taste from
nuc of solitary tract from mouth
cavity
Efferent preganglionoc fibres
reach otic ganglion through
tympanic branch of
3) Sensory nucleus
Is part of the nucleus of tractus
solitarius. Sensations of taste travel
through the peripheral axons of nv in
ganglion on the glossopharyngeal nv.
Efferent fibres cross the median plane &
ascend to the ventral group of nuc of the
opposite thalamus & a number of
hypothalamic nuc internal capsule
&corona radiata to lower part of
postcentral gyrus
Afferent info about general sensation
enters brainstem through superior
ganglion of glossopharyngeal nerve but
ends in the spinal nuc of the CN V.
From baroceptor (carotid sinus) terminate
at nuc of tractus solitarius & connected to
dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nv
(assist in regulation of arterial blood
pressure)
COURSE
Leaves anterolat surface of upper part of the
MO as a series of rootlets in groove between
olive&inf cerbellar peduncle laterally in
post cranial fossa &leaves skull through
jugular foramen descends upper part of
neck (with IJV &ICA) post border of
stylopharyngeus mm superior &middle
constrictor mm of pharynx to give sensory
branches to mucous membrane of pharynx
&post 3rd of tongue
CN X: VAGUS NV
Mixed sensory/motot
3 nuclei:
1)main motor nuclei
Deep in reticular formation of MO &is
formed by the nuc ambiguus
Receives CN fibres from both cerebral
hemispheres
Efferent fibres supply constrictor mm of
pharynx & intrinsic mm of larynx
2)Parasympathetic nucleus
Forms the dorsal nuc of the vagus &lies
beneath the floor of lower part of the 4th
ventricle, Posterolateral to the hypoglossal
nucleus.
Receives afferent fibres from the
hypothalamus through descending autonomic
pathways + from glossopharyngeal nv
(carotid sinus reflex)
Efferent fibres to involuntary mm of bronchi,
heart, esophagus, stomach, small &large
intestines till the distal 1/3rd of the transverse
colon.
3) Sensory nucleus
Forms the lower part of the nuc
tracus solitarius.
Sensation of taste travel through
the peripheral axons of nerve
cells ib the inf ganglion on the
vagus nv
Efferent fibres cross the median
plane &ascend to the ventral gp
of nuc opposite thalamus &a
number of hypothalamic nuc
internal capsule &corona radiata
to the postcentral gyrus.
Afferent info concerning common
Course
Vagus nerve leaves anterolat
surface of upper part of MO as
a series of rootlets in groove
between olive & inf cerebellar
peduncle laterally through the
post cranial fossa jugular
foramen (sup ganglion- rounded)
& below it (inf ganglion-
cylindrical) pharyngeal & rec
laryngeal nv
Descends in neck with IJV , ICA &
CCA rt vagus nv post of
esophagus contributing to
esophageal plexus
 CN XI: ACCESSORY NERVE

Pure motor nerve

Formed by union of cranial and spinal root
Cranial root:
formed from the axons of nv cells of nuc
ambiguus
Receives fibres from both cerebral
hemispheres
Efferent fibres from ant surface of MO
between olive & inf cerebellar peduncle
Course
Runs laterally in post cranial
fossa 2 roots unite  jugular
foramen separate & cranial
root joins the vagus nv &
distribute in pharyngeal & rec
laryngeal branches to the soft
palate, pharyn & larynx
Spinal root
formed from axons of nv cells in
spinal nuc (nt GC of C1-5 of SC)
receives corticospinal fibres from
both cerebral hemispheres.
Course
Emerge from spinal cord midway
between ant and post nv roots of
cervical spinal nv into skull
foramen magnum &joins cranial
partseparates, runs
downwards to deep surface of
sternocleidomastoid m crosses
post triangle of neck to
trapezius mm
CN XII: HYPOGLOSSAL NERVE
Nuc situated in midline
immediately beneath the floor of
the lower part of 4th ventricle.
Receives fibres from both
cerebral hemispheres.
Cells supplying the genioglossus
muscle only receive
corticonuclear fibers from
opposite cerebral hemisphere.
Pass ant through the medulla
oblongata and merge as roots in
groove between olive & pyramid