NSG 4055 CRANIAL NERVES
No. Nerve Type Origin Nuclei Foramen Function
Cribiform plate of the
I Olfactory Sensory Telencephalon Anterior olfactory nucleus SS: Smell (nasal septum and superior conchae)
ethmoid
II Optic Sensory Diencephalon Ganglion cells of retina Optic canal SS: Vision (retina)
Superior orbital M: levator palpebrae superioris, superior rectus (superior), medial rectus (adduction), inferior rectus
Motor Anterior aspect of Oculomotor nucleus,
III Oculomotor fissure (inferior), and inferior oblique(Superior medial)
+ Para. Midbrain Edinger-Westphal nucleus
P: Sphincter pupillae (constriction) and the muscles of the ciliary body (near vision)
Dorsal aspect of Superior orbital
IV Trochlear Motor Trochlear nucleus M: Superior oblique (Inferior medial)
Midbrain fissure
Principal sensory trigeminal V1: superior orbital
nucleus, fissure S: Ophthalmic (V1) - Cornea, forehead, scalp, eyelids, nose, nasal mucosa, paranasal sinus, meninges
Spinal trigeminal nucleus, V2: foramen Maxillary (V2) - Face over maxilla, temples, upper lip, maxillary teeth, maxillary sinuses, palate
V Trigeminal Both Pons
Mesencephalic trigeminal rotundum Mandibular (V3) - Face over mandible, somatic sensory to anterior 2/3 of tongue, anterior to ear
nucleus, V3: foramen ovale M: Mandibular (V3) - Muscles of mastication (masseter, temporalis, pterygoids), tensor tympani (ear)
Trigeminal motor nucleus
Anterior margin Superior orbital
VI Abducens Motor Abducens nucleus M: Lateral rectus (abduction)
of Pons fissure
Internal acoustic SS: Taste (anterior 2/3)
Facial nucleus, meatus
Pons (cerebello- S: Skin of the external ear canal
VII Facial nerve Both Solitary nucleus, Facial canal
pontine angle) M: Muscles of facial expression (mouth, forehead, nose, eye), stylohyoid and stapedius (middle ear)
Superior salivary nucleus Stylomastoid foramen P: Submandibular and sublingual salivary glands, lacrimal glands, and glands of the nose and palate
Lateral to CN VII Internal acoustic
Sensory Vestibular nuclei, SS: Cochlear branch - hearing
VIII Vestibulocochlear (cerebello- meatus
+ Para. Cochlear nuclei Vestibular branch - head movement and gravity
pontine angle)
Jugular foramen SS: Taste (posterior 1/3), chemo and baroreceptors in the carotid bodies
Nucleus ambiguus,
S: Middle ear, pharynx, posterior 1/3 of tongue
IX Glossopharyngeal Both Medulla Inferior salivary nucleus,
M: Stylopharyngeus muscle (Swallowing)
Solitary nucleus
P: Parotid gland
Jugular foramen SS: tasst from epiglottis and pharynx
Nucleus ambiguus, S: Posterior pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, heart, oesophagus, stomach, intestine, utricle, external
Both Posterolateral
X Vagus Dorsal motor vagal nucleus, acoustic meatus, dura mater of posterior cranial fossa
sulcus of medulla
Solitary nucleus M: Laryngeal (voice) and pharyngeal (swallowing) muscles
P: Trachea, bronchi, GI organs and glands, heart, chemo and baroreceptor (aortic arch)
XI Spinal accessory Motor Cranial and Spinal Nucleus ambiguus, Jugular foramen M: Sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscles
No. Nerve Type Origin Nuclei Foramen Function
Cribiform plate of the
I Olfactory Sensory Telencephalon Anterior olfactory nucleus SS: Smell (nasal septum and superior conchae)
ethmoid
II Optic Sensory Diencephalon Ganglion cells of retina Optic canal SS: Vision (retina)
Superior orbital M: levator palpebrae superioris, superior rectus (superior), medial rectus (adduction), inferior rectus
Motor Anterior aspect of Oculomotor nucleus,
III Oculomotor fissure (inferior), and inferior oblique(Superior medial)
+ Para. Midbrain Edinger-Westphal nucleus
P: Sphincter pupillae (constriction) and the muscles of the ciliary body (near vision)
Dorsal aspect of Superior orbital
IV Trochlear Motor Trochlear nucleus M: Superior oblique (Inferior medial)
Midbrain fissure
Principal sensory trigeminal V1: superior orbital
nucleus, fissure S: Ophthalmic (V1) - Cornea, forehead, scalp, eyelids, nose, nasal mucosa, paranasal sinus, meninges
Spinal trigeminal nucleus, V2: foramen Maxillary (V2) - Face over maxilla, temples, upper lip, maxillary teeth, maxillary sinuses, palate
V Trigeminal Both Pons
Mesencephalic trigeminal rotundum Mandibular (V3) - Face over mandible, somatic sensory to anterior 2/3 of tongue, anterior to ear
nucleus, V3: foramen ovale M: Mandibular (V3) - Muscles of mastication (masseter, temporalis, pterygoids), tensor tympani (ear)
Trigeminal motor nucleus
Anterior margin Superior orbital
VI Abducens Motor Abducens nucleus M: Lateral rectus (abduction)
of Pons fissure
Internal acoustic SS: Taste (anterior 2/3)
Facial nucleus, meatus
Pons (cerebello- S: Skin of the external ear canal
VII Facial nerve Both Solitary nucleus, Facial canal
pontine angle) M: Muscles of facial expression (mouth, forehead, nose, eye), stylohyoid and stapedius (middle ear)
Superior salivary nucleus Stylomastoid foramen P: Submandibular and sublingual salivary glands, lacrimal glands, and glands of the nose and palate
Lateral to CN VII Internal acoustic
Sensory Vestibular nuclei, SS: Cochlear branch - hearing
VIII Vestibulocochlear (cerebello- meatus
+ Para. Cochlear nuclei Vestibular branch - head movement and gravity
pontine angle)
Jugular foramen SS: Taste (posterior 1/3), chemo and baroreceptors in the carotid bodies
Nucleus ambiguus,
S: Middle ear, pharynx, posterior 1/3 of tongue
IX Glossopharyngeal Both Medulla Inferior salivary nucleus,
M: Stylopharyngeus muscle (Swallowing)
Solitary nucleus
P: Parotid gland
Jugular foramen SS: tasst from epiglottis and pharynx
Nucleus ambiguus, S: Posterior pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, heart, oesophagus, stomach, intestine, utricle, external
Both Posterolateral
X Vagus Dorsal motor vagal nucleus, acoustic meatus, dura mater of posterior cranial fossa
sulcus of medulla
Solitary nucleus M: Laryngeal (voice) and pharyngeal (swallowing) muscles
P: Trachea, bronchi, GI organs and glands, heart, chemo and baroreceptor (aortic arch)
XI Spinal accessory Motor Cranial and Spinal Nucleus ambiguus, Jugular foramen M: Sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscles
