it is a sub topic of nervous system and it is useful for Diploma in pharmacy, Bachelor of Pharmacy and Doctor of pharmacy students

1. Cranial Nerves
SURESH BABU EMANDI M.Pharm
Department of Pharmacognosy,
Vikas Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Near Air Port, Rajahmundry,
Andhrapradesh-533102.

2. Names of cranial nerves
 Ⅰ Olfactory nerve
 Ⅱ Optic nerve
 Ⅲ Oculomotor nerve
 Ⅳ Trochlear nerve
 Ⅴ Trigeminal nerve
 Ⅵ Abducent nerve
 Ⅶ Facial nerve
 Ⅷ Vestibulocochlear nerve
 Ⅸ Glossopharyngeal nerve
 Ⅹ Vagus nerve
 Ⅺ Accessory nerve
 Ⅻ Hypoglossal nerve

3. Classification of cranial nerves
 Sensory cranial nerves: contain only afferent (sensory) fibers
 ⅠOlfactory nerve
 ⅡOptic nerve
 Ⅷ Vestibulocochlear nerve
 Motor cranial nerves: contain only efferent (motor) fibers
 Ⅲ Oculomotor nerve
 Ⅳ Trochlear nerve
 ⅥAbducent nerve
 Ⅺ Accessory nerv
 Ⅻ Hypoglossal nerve
 Mixed nerves: contain both sensory and motor fibers---
 ⅤTrigeminal nerve,
 Ⅶ Facial nerve,
 ⅨGlossopharyngeal nerve
 ⅩVagus nerve

4. Sensory cranial nerves
N. Location of cell
body and axon
categories
Cranial
exit
Terminal
nuclei
Main
action
Ⅰ Olfactory cells
(SVA)
Cribrifom
foramina
Olfactory
bulb
Smell
Ⅱ Ganglion cells
(SSA)
Optic
canal
Lateral
geniculate
body
Vision
Ⅷ Vestibular
ganglion(SSA)
Internal
acoustic
meatus
Vestibular
nuclei
Equilibri
um
Cochlear
ganglion (SSA)
Cochlear
nuclei
Hearing

5. Olfactory nerve
Olfactory mucosa (SVA)→ Cribriform foramina → Olfactory bulb

6. I. Olfactory nerves (sensory)
 These are the nerves of the sense of smell.
 Their nerve endings and fibres originate in the
upper part of the mucous membrane of the
nasal cavity, pass upwards through the cribriform
plate of the ethmoid bone and then go to the
olfactory bulb. The nerves then proceed
backwards as the olfactory tract, to the area for
the perception of smell in the temporal lobe of
the cerebrum.

7. Optic nerve
Ganglion cell (SSA) → Optic canal → Lateral geniculate body

8. II. Optic nerves
(sensory)
These are the nerves of the sense of sight.
The fibres originate in the retinae of the eyes
and they combine to form the optic nerves.
They are directed backwards and medially
through the posterior part of the orbital cavity.
They then pass through the optic foramina

9. Vestibulocochlear nerve
Vestibular ganglion(SSA) ↘ ↗ Vestibular nuclei
Internal acoustic meatus
Cochlear ganglion (SSA) ↗ ↘ Cochlear nuclei

10. VIII. Vestibulocochlear (auditory) nerves
(sensory)
 These nerves are composed of two distinct sets of fibres,
vestibular nerves and cochlear nerves.
 The vestibular nerves arise from the semicircular canals
of the inner ear and convey impulses to the cerebellum.
 They are associated with the maintenance of posture and
balance.
 The cochlear nerves originate in the organ of Corti in the
inner ear and convey impulses to the hearing areas in
the cerebral cortex where sound is perceived.

11. Motor cranial nerves
N. Nucleus of origin and
axon categories
Cranial exit Main action
Ⅲ Nucleus of oculomotor
(GSE)
Superior orbital
fissure
Motot to superior, inferior
and medial recti; inferior
obliquus; levator
palpebrae superioris
Accessory nucleus of
oculomotor (GVE)
Parasympathetic to
sphincter pupillea and
ciliary muscl
Ⅳ Nucleus of trochlear
nerve (GSE)
Superior orbital
fissure
Motor to superior obliquus
Ⅵ Nucleus of abducent
nerve (GSE)
Superior orbital
fissure
Motor to lateral rectus
Ⅺ Nucleus of accessory
nerve (SVE)
Jugular foramen Motor to
sternocleidomastoid and
trapezius
Ⅻ Nucleus of hypoglossal
nerve( GSE)
Hypoglossal canal Motot to muscles of
tongue

13. Oculomotor nerve
 Components
 General somatic efferent fibers (GSE)
 General visceral efferent fibers (GVE)
 Main action－supplies
 Superior, inferior and medial recti; inferior obliquus; levator palpebrae
superioris
 Sphincter pupillea and ciliary muscle
 Ciliary ganglion: lies between optic nerve and lateral rectus
Oculomotor nerve

14. III. Oculomotor nerves (motor)
 These nerves arise from nerve cells near the cerebral
aqueduct.
 They supply:
 four extraocular muscles, which move the eyeball, i.e. the
superior, medial and inferior recti and the inferior oblique
muscle
 intraocular muscles:
 — ciliary muscles which alter the shape of the lens,
 changing its refractive power
 — circular muscles of the iris which constrict the pupil
 the levator palpebrae muscle which raises the upper eyelid.

15. Abducent nerve
Accessory nerve

16. IV. Trochlear nerves (motor)
 These nerves arise from nerve cells near the
cerebral aqueduct.
 They supply the superior oblique muscles of the
eyes.

17. VI. Abducent nerves (motor)
 These nerves arise from a group of nerve cells
lying under the floor of the fourth ventricle.
 They supply the lateral rectus muscles of the
eyeballs

18. Oculamotor paralysis
Abducent nerve injury

19. XII. Hypoglossal nerves (motor)
These nerves arise from cells in the medulla
oblongata.
They supply the muscles of the tongue and
muscles.
surrounding the hyoid bone and contribute
to swallowing and speech.

20. Hypoglossal nerve
Hypoglossal nerve

21. Mixed cranial nerves

22. Trigeminal nerve
Components of fibers
SVE fibers: originate from motor nucleus of
trigeminal nerve, and supply masticatory
muscles
GSA fibers: transmit facial sensation to sensory
nuclei of trigeminal nerve, the GSA fibers have
their cell bodies in trigeminal ganglion, which
lies on the apex of petrous part of temporal
bone

23. V. Trigeminal nerves (mixed)
 These nerves contain motor and sensory fibres and
are among the largest of the cranial nerves.
 They are the chief sensory nerves for the face and
head (including the oral and nasal cavities and
teeth), receiving impulses of pain, temperature and
touch.
 The motor fibres stimulate the muscles of
mastication.There are three main branches of the
trigeminal nerves. The dermatomes supplied by the
sensory fibres

24. .
 The ophthalmic nerves are sensory only and supply the lacrimal glands,
conjunctiva of the eyes, forehead, eyelids, anterior aspect of the scalp
and mucous membrane of the nose.
 The maxillary nerves are sensory only and supply the cheeks, upper
gums, upper teeth and lower eyelids.
 The mandibular nerves contain both sensory and motor fibres. These
are the largest of the three divisions and they supply the teeth and
gums of the lower jaw, pinnae of the ears, lower lip and tongue. The
motor fibres supply the muscles of mastication

26. Branches
 Ophthalmic nerve
(Ⅴ1, sensory) leave
the skull through the
superior orbital fissure, to
enter orbital cavity
 Branches
 Frontal nerve:
 Supratrochlear nerve
 Supraorbital nerve
 Lacrimal nerve
 Nasociliary nerve

27. Distribution:
 Sensation from cerebral
dura mater
 Visual organ
 Mucosa of nose
 Skin above the eye and
back of nose

28. Maxillary nerve
(Ⅴ2, sensory)
Leave skull through
foramen rotundum
Branches
Infraorbital nerve
Zygomatic nerve
Superior alveolar
nerve
Pterygopalatine
nerve

29. Distribution:
Sensation from cerebral
dura mater
Maxillary teeth
Mucosa of nose and
mouth
Skin between eye and
mouth

30. Mandibular nerve (Ⅴ3, mixed)
 Leave the skull through the
foramen ovale to enter the
infratemporal fossa
 Branches
 Auriculo-temporal nerve
 Buccal nerve
 Lingual nerve
 Inferior alveolar nerve
 Nerve of masticatory muscles

32. Distribution:
 Sensation from cerebral
dura mater
 Teeth and gum of lower jaw
 Mucosa of floor of mouth
 Anterior 2/3 of tongue
 Skin of auricular and
temporal regions and below
the mouth
 Motor to masticatory
muscles, mylohyoid, and
anterior belly of digastric

33. Facial nerve (Ⅶ)
Components of fibers
 SVE fibers originate from nucleus of facial nerve, and supply
facial muscles
 GVE fibers derived from superior salivatory nucleus and relayed
in pterygopalatine ganglion and submandibular ganglion. The
postganglionic fibers supply lacrimal, submandibular and
sublingual glands
 SVA fiber from taste buds of anterior two-thirds of tongue which
cell bodies are in the geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve and
end by synapsing with cells of nucleus of solitary tract
 GSA fibers from skin of external ear

35. VII. Facial nerves (mixed)
These nerves are composed of both motor and
sensory nerve fibres, arising from nerve cells in
the lower part of the pons.
The motor fibres supply the muscles of facial
expression.
The sensory fibres convey impulses from the
taste buds in the anterior two-thirds of the
tongue to the taste perception area in the
cerebral cortex

36. Course: leaves skull
through internal acoustic
meatus, facial canal and
stylomastoid foramen, it
then enters parotid
gland where it divides
into five branches which
supply facial muscles

37. Branches within the facial canal
 Chorda tympani joins lingual branch of mandibular nerve
 To taste buds on anterior two-thirds of tongue
 Relayed in submandibular ganglion, the postganglionic fibers supply
submandibular and sublingual glands

38.  Greater petrosal nerve: GVE fibers pass to pterygopalatine ganglion and
there relayed through the zygomatic and lacrimal nerves to lacrimal
gland Stapedial nerve to stapedius

39. Branches outside of facial canal
Temporal
Zygomatic
Buccal
Marginal mandibular
Cervical

40. Pterygopalatine ganglion: lies in pterygopalatine
fossa under maxillary nerve
Submandibular ganglion: lies between lingual nerve
and submandibular gland

41. Injury to the facial nerve

42. Glossopharyngeal nerve (Ⅸ)
Components of fibers
 SVE fibers: originate from nucleus ambiguus, and supply
stylopharygeus
 GVE fibers: arise from inferior salivatory nucleus and ralyed in
otic ganglion, the postganglionic fibers supply parotid gland
 SVA fibers: arise from the cells of inferior ganglion, the central
processes of these cells terminate in nucleus of solitary tract,
the peripheral processes supply the taste buds on posterior
third of tongue
 GVA fibers: visceral sensation from mucosa of posterior third
of tongue, pharynx, auditory tube and tympanic cavity,
carotid sinus and glomus, and end by synapsing with cells of
nucleus of solitary tract
 GSA fibers: sensation from skin of posterior surface of auricle
and

43. IX. Glossopharyngeal nerves (mixed)
 These nerves arise from nuclei in the medulla
oblongata.
 The motor fibres stimulate the muscles of the tongue
and pharynx and the secretory cells of the parotid
(salivary) glands.
 The sensory fibres convey impulses to the cerebral
cortex from the posterior third of the tongue, the
tonsils and pharynx and from taste buds in the
tongue and pharynx.
 These nerves are essential for the swallowing and
gag reflexes.

45. Course: leaves the skull via jugular foramen
Branches
 Lingual branches : to taste buds and mucosa of posterior third of
tongue
 Pharyngeal branches: take part in forming the pharyngeal plexus
 Tympanic nerve: GVE fibers via tympanic and lesser petrosal nerves
to otic ganglion, with postganglionic fibers via auriculotemporal (Ⅴ3)
(Ⅴ3) to parotid gland
 Carotid sinus branch : innervations to both carotid sinus and glomus
 Others: tonsillar and stylophayngeal branches
Otic ganglion : situated just below foramen ovale

47. Vagus nerve (Ⅹ)
components of fibers
GVE fibers: originate from dorsal nucleus of vagus
nerve, synapse in parasympathetic ganglion,
short postganglionic fibers innervate cardiac
muscles, smooth muscles and glands of viscera
SVE fibers: originate from ambiguus, to muscles
of pharynx and larynx
GVA fibers: carry impulse from viscera in neck,
thoracic and abdominal cavity to nucleus of
solitary tract
GSA fiber: sensation from auricle, external
acoustic meatus and cerebral dura mater

48. X. Vagus nerves (mixed)
 These nerves have a more extensive distribution than
any other cranial nerves.
 They arise from nerve cells in the medulla oblongata
and other nuclei, and pass down through the neck into
the thorax and the abdomen.
 These nerves form an important part of the
parasympathetic nervous system

49.  The motor fibres supply the smooth muscles and
secretory glands of the pharynx, larynx, trachea,
heart, oesophagus, stomach, intestines, pancreas,
gall bladder, bile ducts, spleen, kidneys, ureter and
blood vessels in the thoracic and abdominal cavities.
 The sensory fibres convey impulses from the lining
 membranes of the same structures to the brain

51. Course
 Exits the skull from jugular foramen
 Descends in the neck in carotid sheath between internal
(or common) carotid artery and internal jugular vein
Right vagus nerve
 Enter thoracic inlet on right side of trachea
 Travels downward posterior to right brachiocephalic
vein and superior vena cava
 Passes posterior to right lung root
 Forms posterior esophageal plexus
 Forms posterior vagal trunk at esophageal hiatus where
it leaves thorax and passes into abdominal cavity, then
divides into posterior gastric and celiac branches

52. Left vagus nerve
 Enter thoracic inlet between left common
carotid and left subclavian arteries, posterior to
left brachiocephalic vein
 Crosses aortic arch where left recurrent
laryngeal nerve branches off
 Passes posterior to left lung root
 Forms anterior esophageal plexus
 Forms anterior vagal trunk at esophageal
hiatus where it leaves thorax and passes into
abdominal cavity , then divides into anterior
gastric and hepatic branches

53. Branches in neck
 Superior laryngeal nerve: passes down side of pharynx and given rise to
 Internal branch, which pierces thyrohyoid membrane to innervates mucous
membrane of larynx above fissure of glottis
 External branch, which innervates cricothyroid
 Cervical cardiac branches : descending to terminate in cardiac plexus
 Others: auricular, pharyngeal and meningeal branches

54. Superior laryngeal nerve
External branch
Internal branch

55. Branches in thorax
 Recurrent laryngeal nerves
 Right one hooks around right subclavian
artery, left one hooks aortic arch
 Both ascend in tracheo-esophageal
groove
 Nerves enter larynx posterior to
cricothyroid joint, the nerve is now called
inferior laryngeal nerve
 Innervations: laryngeal mucosa below
fissure of glottis , all laryngeal laryngeal
muscles except cricothyroid
 Bronchial and esophageal branches

56. Branches in abdomen
 Anterior and posterior gastric
branches
 Run close to lesser curvature
and innervate anterior and
posterior surfaces of stomach
 As far as pyloric antrum to fan
out into branches in a way like
the digits of a crow’s foot to
supply pyloric part
 Hepatic branches: join hepatic
plexus and then supply liver and
gallbladder
 Celiac branches: send branches
to celiac plexus to be distributed
with sympathetic fibers to liver,
pancreas, spleen, kidneys,
intestine as far as left colic
flexure