Cranial nerves Overview - MRCEM Preparation Course
طب بشري | Medicine طب أسنان | Dentistry
جامعة عمان العربية
- 2025-04-13
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The human cranial nerves are 12 paired nerves that emerge directly from the brain (or brainstem) and play critical roles in sensory perception, motor function, and autonomic regulation
I. Olfactory Nerve (Nervus Olfactorius, I)
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Origin: The olfactory nerve originates in the olfactory epithelium located in the roof of the nasal cavity.
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Exit: Its delicate fibers pass through the numerous small foramina of the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone.
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Function: This purely sensory nerve is responsible for the sense of smell, transmitting chemical signals to the olfactory bulb and thereafter to higher brain centers for odor recognition and processing.
II. Optic Nerve (Nervus Opticus, II)
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Origin: The retina, particularly from the ganglion cells of the eye, generates the optic nerve.
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Exit: Passing through the optic canal, the nerve fibers carry visual data until they partially decussate at the optic chiasm.
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Function: It is solely sensory, conveying visual information from the retina to the brain’s visual cortex for image processing.
III. Oculomotor Nerve (Nervus Oculomotorius, III)
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Origin: Emerging from the oculomotor nucleus in the anterior portion of the midbrain, this nerve is pivotal for ocular motor control.
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Exit: It exits the cranial cavity via the superior orbital fissure.
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Function: It is predominantly motor, innervating four of the six extrinsic eye muscles to control most eye movements and eyelid elevation (via the levator palpebrae superioris). Additionally, its parasympathetic fibers mediate pupillary constriction and the accommodation reflex.
IV. Trochlear Nerve (Nervus Trochlearis, IV)
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Origin: The trochlear nerve is unique in that it arises from the dorsal aspect of the midbrain.
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Exit: It also exits through the superior orbital fissure.
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Function: This motor nerve innervates the superior oblique muscle of the eye, which is essential for downward and laterally directed movements, helping to depress and intort the eyeball.
V. Trigeminal Nerve (Nervus Trigeminus, V)
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Origin: The sensory components of the trigeminal nerve originate in a widespread sensory nucleus located in the pons, while its motor nucleus is also found within the pons.
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Exit:
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V1 (Ophthalmic): Exits via the superior orbital fissure.
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V2 (Maxillary): Passes through the foramen rotundum.
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V3 (Mandibular): Exits the skull through the foramen ovale.
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Function: Being a mixed nerve, it transmits sensory information (touch, pain, temperature) from the face and controls muscles of mastication via its motor fibers.
VI. Abducens Nerve (Nervus Abducens, VI)
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Origin: The abducens nerve originates from the abducens nucleus in the pons.
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Exit: It exits the skull through the superior orbital fissure to reach the orbit.
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Function: As a motor nerve, it innervates the lateral rectus muscle, which abducts the eye (moves it laterally).
VII. Facial Nerve (Nervus Facialis, VII)
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Origin: The facial nerve arises at the pontomedullary junction within the pons and has complex nuclei that span motor, sensory, and parasympathetic functions.
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Exit: It travels through the internal acoustic meatus and later exits the skull via the stylomastoid foramen.
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Function: This mixed nerve governs the muscles of facial expression, conveys taste sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, and provides parasympathetic innervation to the lacrimal and salivary glands.
VIII. Vestibulocochlear Nerve (Nervus Vestibulocochlearis, VIII)
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Origin: Comprising fibers from both the cochlear and vestibular nuclei (located within the brainstem—in the regions of the pons and medulla), this nerve is specialized for auditory and balance functions.
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Exit: It enters the skull via the internal acoustic meatus alongside the facial nerve.
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Function: It is a sensory nerve with two distinct parts: the cochlear division (for hearing) and the vestibular division (for balance and spatial orientation).
IX. Glossopharyngeal Nerve (Nervus Glossopharyngeus, IX)
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Origin: The glossopharyngeal nerve emerges from the medulla oblongata and is linked with several nuclei involved in taste and visceral sensory processing.
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Exit: It exits the skull through the jugular foramen.
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Function: This mixed nerve carries sensory information (taste and general sensation) from the posterior third of the tongue and the pharynx, contributes motor fibers to the stylopharyngeus muscle (aiding in swallowing), and transmits parasympathetic signals to the parotid gland. It also plays a role in monitoring blood chemistry via carotid body receptors.
X. Vagus Nerve (Nervus Vagus, X)
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Origin: Arising from the medulla oblongata, particularly the dorsal motor nucleus and nucleus ambiguus, the vagus nerve is one of the most complex cranial nerves.
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Exit: It exits through the jugular foramen.
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Function: As a predominantly parasympathetic mixed nerve, the vagus influences a wide range of functions including heart rate, gastrointestinal peristalsis, and glandular secretion. Additionally, it contributes to sensory and motor control in the larynx and pharynx.
XI. Accessory Nerve (Nervus Accessorius, XI)
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Origin: The accessory nerve is unique because it has a spinal component (originating from the upper cervical segments of the spinal cord, typically C1–C5) and a cranial component that arises from the medulla.
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Exit: It exits the skull via the jugular foramen.
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Function: It is primarily motor, innervating the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles, which are vital for head rotation and shoulder elevation.
XII. Hypoglossal Nerve (Nervus Hypoglossus, XII)
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Origin: The hypoglossal nucleus in the medulla oblongata gives rise to this nerve.
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Exit: The nerve emerges from the skull through the hypoglossal canal.
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Function: It supplies motor innervation to nearly all intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the tongue, thereby playing an essential role in speech articulation and swallowing.
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