Cranial Nerves Brain Stem Nuclei

Name Action Entry/Exit Test Nuclei Level Column Type Blood Supply
1 Olfactory Smell Cribriform plate of ethmoid Smell (peppermint oil) in each nostril +
control. Amnosia = no smell

2 Optic Vision Optic Canal Visual acuity (Snellens Chart) and extent Branches of Optic Tract go to Superior Colliculus
of visual fields

3 Oculomotor Superior orbital fissure

Extraocular muscles Motor to extraocular muscles except lateral rectus Movement of eyes: diplopia (double Oculomotor Mid brain - 1 GSE Posterior Cerebral
and superior oblique vision) Superior foliculus
Intraocular muscles Motor to intrinsic smooth muscles of eye (constriction Pupillary light and pupillary Edinger Westphal Mid brain - 2 GVE Posterior Cerebral
of pupil, accommodation) accommodation reflex. Pupil diametre in Superior foliculous
eye and contralateral eye

4 Trochlear Motor to superior oblique muscle Superior orbital fissure Difficult diplopia on looking inwards and Trochlear (NB fibres Mid brain (Inferior 1 GSE Basillar
downwards cross) Colliculus)

5 Trigeminal
V1 Opthalmic div Sensory - skin of nose to vertex, nasal mucosa, Superior orbital fissure Corneal reflex Mescencephalic Rostral Pons 6 GSA Basillar
eyeball incl. Cornea (proprioception)
V2 maxillary div Sensory - cheek, upper lip, teeth of maxilla, dura of foramen rotundum Sensation (cotton wool) and pin prick on Chief/Pontine Mid Pons 6 GSA Basillar
middle and anterior cranial fossa (-> headache) cheek (Discrimination)
V3 mandibular div Sensory - Skin over jaw to temple, teeth of mandible, foramen ovale Sensation (cotton wool) and pin prick over Spinal Trigeminal Caudal Pons to 6 GSA AICA (superior)
anterior tongue mandible (Pain/Temperature) Cervical Spine PICA (inferior)
Motor - muscles of mastication & floor of mouth, foramen ovale Power of jaw muscles (masseters for Trigeminal Motor Mid Pons 3 BE Basillar
tensor tymphani closure), jaw jerk

6 Abducent Motor to lateral rectus muscle Superior Orbital fissure Lateral movement of eyes: diplopia Abducens Caudal Pons 1 GSE Basillar

7 Facial Internal auditory meatus &

facial canal
Motor muscles of facial expression (mimetic muscles), scalp Facial strength: frown, close eyes tightly, Facial Motor Caudal Pons 3 BE Basillar
muscles, stylohyloid, platysma, stapedius teethy smile
Taste Taste on anterior two thirds of tongue Taste on anterior tongue
Sensory concha, external auditory meatus
Salivation Visceral Efferent: Submandibullar and sublingal Superior Salvatory Caudal Pons 2 GVE Basillar
glands, lacrimal glands Lacrimal

8 Vestibulochochlear Internal auditory meatus

Hearing Hearing Dorsal/Ventral Caudal Pons 5 SSA AICA
Choclear
Balance Balance Lateral/Medial/ Caudal Pons 5 SSA AICA
Superior/Inferior
Vestibular

9 Glossopharyngeal Back of mouth and throat Jugular foramen

Taste Posterior 1/3rd of tongue Solitary tract Rostral Medulla 4 SVA PICA
(superior)
Sensory Posterior tongu, upper pharynx, eustachian tube, Gag reflex
middle ear
Motor Sylopharyngeal (swallowing) Ambiguous All Medulla 3 BE Vertebral
Viseral afferent Carotid sinus Solitary tract (inferior) Open Medulla to 4 GVA PICA
closed medulla
10 Vagus Jugular foramen
Motor muscles of pharynx & larynx Movement of soft palate (say ahh); vocal
chords
Viseral efferent motor to thoracic & abdominal viscera dorsal motor nucleus All Medulla 2 GVE Vertebral/PICA
of vagus
Viseral afferent sensory to thoracic & abdominal viscera, aortic body
& sinus
Sensory lower pharynx and larynx, external ear, external
auditory meatus, tympanic membrane
Taste Oropharynx

11 Accessory Motor to stenomastoid & Trapezius Jugular foramen Strength of sternomastoid & trapezieus Spinal Acessory C1-5 3 BE Anterior Spinal
(turn head & shrug against force)

12 Hypoglossal Motor to all muscles of tongue Hypoglossal canal Protrusion of tongue Hypoglossal All Medulla 1 GSE Anterior Spinal