NUCLEUS

TYPE

CN

FUNCTION
AL TYPE

CRANIAL
EXIT

NUCLEUS NAME

SPECIA
L
SENSO
RY

I (Olfactory)

SSA

Anterior olfactory

II (Optic)

SSA

Cribriform
plate of
ethmoid
bone
Optic
foramen

VIII
(Vestibulocochl
ear)

SSA

Entry:
Internal
acoustic
meatus
Exit:
stylomast
oid
foramen

Vestibular: posterior
surface of pons
Cochlear:
Dorsal and ventral

Superior
orbital
fissure

Oculomotor

MOTO
R

III (Oculomotor)

GSE

Lateral geniculate

Edinger-westphal
(preganglionic PS)

FUNCTION

MAJOR
CONNECTIO
NS
Mucosa
projects to
olfactory
bulb
Projects to
lateral
geniculate
ganglion;
superior
colliculus

NUCLEUS
LOCATION

MOTOR
INNERVATION

SENSORY
INNERVATI
ON
Mucosa of
nasal
cavity

FUNCTION

thalamus

Retina of
the eye

Vision

Projects to
cochlear
nuclei, then
inferior
colliculi,
then medial
geniculate

Pons
medulla

Inner ear
labyrinthin
e
structures:
semicircula
r canal and
cochlear
apparatus

1.Hearing
2.balance
3.angular
acceleration
(head
turning)
4.linear
acceleration
(gravity)

Receives
input from
lateral gaze
center
(paramedica
l pontine
reticular
formation;
PRFF) via
median
longitudinal
fasciculus

Upper
midbrain

Projects ro
ciliary
ganglia,
then to pupil

Upper
midbrain

Olfactory
tract

Pontomedull
ary junction

1.Levator
palpebrae
superioris
2.EOM
a.superior
rectus
b.medial
rectus
c.inferior
rectus
d.inferior
oblique
1.sphincter
papillae
2.ciliary ms
3.ciliary
ganglion

PARASYMPATHE
TIC FUNCTION

Smell

LESION

Anosmia or
dysnosmia
(fracture of
cribriform plate)
1.Anopsia: visual
field deficits
2.loss of light
reflex w/ III
3.external
strabismus (loss
of adduction)
1.Sensorineural
hearing loss
-profound and
unilateral if
lesion is in
cochlear nuclei or
cochlear part of
VIII
-slight bilateral
hearing loss and
ddecreased ability
to localize sound
if lesion is
above superior
olivary nucleus
2.loss of balance
3.nystagmus

Raises the
eyelid
Eye
movement:
most
important
ms is medial
rectus for
adduction

Pupil
constriction
Lens
accommodatio
n

Mydriasis
Cycloplegia, loss
of near respoonse

IV (Trochlear)

VI (Abduscens)

XI (Accessory)
Corticobulbar
innervation

XII
(Hypoglossal)
Corticobulbar
inn.

GSE

Trochlear

GSE

SVE
(branchial
)

GSE

Abduscens

Jugular
foramen

Hypogloss
al canal

Spinal accessory

hypoglossal

-Dorsal to
cerebellar
peduncle,
ventral to
cerebral
aqueduct
-arise from
the dorsal
part, cross,
then go
below
inferior
colliculus to
the ventral
part
-Found near
the midline,
in the floor
of the 4th
ventricle
-VI fibers
encircled by
VII fibers
(genu)
-receives
input PPRF

Lower
midbrain

Superior oblique
muscle

SO4

Pons

Lateral rectus
muscle

LR6

Cervical
spinal cord
(ventral
horns at C2C5)

sternocleidomas
toid

medulla

1.styloglossus
2.hypoglossus
3.genioglossus

trapezius

1.Downward
gaze and
ABDUCTS
the eye
2.intortion

1.Weakness
looking down
(reading)
2.diplopia
Tilts head AWAY
from lesion

ABduction

1.diplopia
2.internal
strabismus:
medial eye
deviation
3.loss of parallel
gaze
4.pseudoptosis

Head
Weakness turning
rotation to
chin to opposite
opposite side
side
Elevates and
Shoulder droop
rotates
scapula
Note: intramedullary lesion does not affect this
CN!!!
Tongue
Tongue pointing
movement
TOWARDS
affected side on
protrusion

MIXED

V (Trigeminal)

GSA

V1:
superior
orbital
fissure
V2:
foramen
rotundum
V3:
foramen
ovale

1.mesencephalic:
-above entry point of V
-proprioceptive input
-monosynaptic reflex
jaw jerk reflex

Midbrain

V1:
1.skin of
forehead
2.scalp
3.cornea

V1: general
sensation
(touch, pain,
temp)

V1:
1.loss of general
sensation
2.loss of blin
reflex

Middle pons

V2:
1.palte
2.nasal
cavity
3.maxillary
face and
teeth
V3:
SENSORY
1.anterior
2/3 of
tongue
2.mandibul
ar face and
teeth

V2: general
sensation

V2:
1.loss of general
sensation
2.trigeminal
neuralgia

V3: general
sensation

V3:
1.loss of general
sensation
2.trigeminal
neuralgia

V3:
mastication

V3:
1.weakness in
chewing
2.jaw deviation
TOWARDS weak
side

2.motor:
-point of entry of V
-medial to main sensory
nucleus
-supply muscles of
mastication
3.main
sensory/chief/principal/
semilunar/gasseriam/trig
eminal
-point of entry of V
-lateral to motor nucleus
-tactile afferents
synapse 2neuron cross
midline VPM thalamus
somatosensory cortex
4.spinal tract and nuclei
-caudal continuation of
main sensory nucleus
-elongate nuclei
-position analogous to
dorsal horns of SC
(meaning: posteriorly)
-pain and T afferents
descending in spinal
tract reach nucleus
cross midline VPM
thalamus
somatosensory cortex

Middle pons

Lower pons
to SC (C2)

V3: MOTOR
1.muscles of
mastication
a.temporalis
b.masseter
c.medial
pterygoid
d.lateral
pterygoid
2.anterior belly
of digastrics
3.mylohyoid
4.tensor
tympani
5.tensor palatini

NOTE:
1.complete V
lesion (at entry or
exit point of V) in
rostral pons,
results in
complete
anesthesia of
ipsilateral face
and jaw weakness

(bec the motor

and main nuclei
are affected)

VII (Facial)
Corticobulbar
innervations
(partially
bilateral)
-bilateral upper
face
innervations
-contralateral
lowe face
innervation

IX
(Glossopharyng
eal)

SVE
(branchial
)

Entry:
internal
acoustic
meatus
Exit:
stylomast
oid
foramen

1.facial nucleus:
-ventrolateral to V1 nuclei
-anterior genu of facial
nerve: fibers curve
around the posterior side
of VI nuclei, then pass
ventrolaterally

GVA

2.geniculate ganglion

GVE

3.lacrimatory
-projects to solitary tract
and nucleus??

GVE

4.Superior Salivatory

SVE

Jugular
foramen

Inferior salivatory nucleus

Pons

Projects to
solitary tract
and nucleus,
then to
thalamus
Goes to
pterygopalat
ine ganglion

1.Muscles of
facial
expression
2.post. Belly of
digastrics
3.sytlohyoid
4.stapedius

Facial
expression

Controls
amplitude of
sound

Taste, ant. 2/3

of tongue via
chorda tympani

2.lesion in lateral
lower pons or
lateral medulla,
results in
complete
anesthesia and
loss of 1st
sensation of
ipsilateral face
only; muscle
function and
tactile sensation
would be intact
(bec spinal nuclei
is the only one
affected)
-Corner of mouth
drops, cannot
close eye, cannot
wrinkle forehead,
no blink reflex
-hyperacusis

Ageusia (loss of
taste), disgeusia

Tears
(preganglio
nic PS)

Lacrimal
glands?

Dry, red eye, loss

of lacrimation,
complete VII
lesion

Submandubu
lar,
sublingual,
lacrimal
glands via
nervus
intermedius

medulla

NOTE:
-RIGHT CORTICOBULBAR FIBERS (UMN LESION) left lower face weakness = mouth
droops but px can still blink, wrinkle forehead bec px still has corticobulbar fibers
innervating the upper face)
-LEFT LMN LESION (VII) complete left face weakness = Bells Palsy
Parotid gland
Loss of
lacrimation

SVA

X (Vagus)

Inferior (petrosal) and

superior
glossopharyngeal ganglia
-projects to solitary tract
and nuclelus

SVE

Nucleus ambiguus

SVE

Nucleus ambiguus
-LMN muscles
-behind inferior olive

GVE

Dorsal motor vagal

-inferior parasympathetic
nuclei preganglionic
fibers to thorax and GI
(foregut and mudgut)
-lateral to XII nucleus in
the floor of 4th vent

Corticobulbar
innervation

1.General
sensation
from post
1/3 of
tongue
2.Soft plate
3.auditory
tube
4.sensory
input from
carotid
bodies and
sinus
5.taste
from post.
1/3 of
tongue
stylopharyngeus
medulla

Muscles of
palate and
pharynx; except
tensor palate
(V) and
stylopharyngeus
(IX)

1.Larynx
muscles
(recurrent
laryngeal n.)

taste

Ageusia,
dysgeusia

Elevation of
pharynx
swallowing

Loss of gag reflex

Phonation

Sensory

3.GI tract and

laryngeal
smooth muscles
and glands
(foregut and
midgut)
1.Respond to
visceral
sensation
(taste,
respiratory, GI)

Sensory PS

chemorecept
or

2. carotid sinus
and body
Superior (jugular)
ganglion

Loss of gag reflex

2.larynx and
laryngopharynx

Solitary nucleus

GSA

General
sensation

Projects to
VPM of
thalamus

External
auditory
meatus

Autonomic
control of
thoracic and
abdominal
viscera

1.dysphagia
2.palate droop
(ipsilateral
paralysis of soft
palate uvula
pointing away
from lesion
3. nasal
regurgitation
1.nasal speech
2.hoarseness
3.fixed vocal cord
1.loss of gag
reflex with IX
2.loss of cough
reflex
3.delayed gastric
emptying

Delayed gastric
emptying

GVA

Inferior vagal (nodose)

and superior ganglia

Projects to
solitary tract
and nucleus

Sensation
from
abdominal
and thoracic
viscera