CRANIAL NERVES

Functional
No. Name Central Connections Distribution / Function
Classification
CN I Olfactory Temporal Lobe Sensory S: sense of smell
CN II Optic Occipital Lobe Sensory S: sense of sight
M: extraocular muscles except
CN III Oculomotor Midbrain Motor
lateral rectus & superior oblique
CN IV Trochlear (thinnest) Pons Motor M: superior oblique muscle
S: skin of face
(upper part – ophthalmic branch
CN V Trigeminal (largest) Pons Mixed middle part – maxillary branch
lower part – mandibular branch)
M: muscles of mastication
CN VI Abduceris Pons Motor M: lateral rectus muscle
S: taste, anterior 2/3 of tongue
CN VII Facial Pons Mixed
M: muscles of facial expression
Auditory / S: equilibrium (vestibular) &
CN VIII Medulla Oblongata Sensory
Vestibulocochlear hearing (cochlear)
S: taste, posterior 1/3 of tongue,
CN IX Glossopharyngeal Medulla Oblongata Mixed pharynx
M: stylopharyngeus muscle
S: skin of external auditory
meatus, pharynx, larynx and
CN X Vagus (longest) Medulla Oblongata Mixed thoracic & abdominal viscera
M: muscles of the pharynx and
larynx
M: trapezius &
CN XI Spinal Accessory Medulla Oblongata Motor sternocleidomastoid; muscles of
the pharynx & larynx
CN XII Hypoglossal Medulla Oblongata Motor M: muscles of the tongue
Mnemonic for cranial nerves: Oh Oh Oh To Touch And Feel Very Green Vegetables AH!

AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

• Motor/efferent nerve fibers distributed to smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands

• Controls the functions of the body which are carried out automatically

• These functions do not reach consciousness under normal conditions

• It functions to maintain a delicate balance within the body

• Most visceral organs are supplied by both sympathetic & parasympathetic and their effects are
usually opposite

Divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System

A. Sympathetic / Thoracolumbar Division

• Arises from all the thoracic segment & first 3 lumbar segments of the spinal cord (T1-L3)

• Generally actions are directed toward mobilizing the body’s energies for dealing with an
increase in activity (Fight or Flight Response)

B. Parasympathetic / Cranioscaral Division

• Arises from the 3rd, 7th, 9th, & 10th cranial nerves & from the 2nd, 3rd, & 4th sacral segments of
the spinal cord (CN III, VII, IX, X, & S2-S4)

• Directed towards conservation of body’s energies (Repose & Repair Response)

Examples

Organ Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Eye (pupil) Mydriasis (dilatation) Miosis (constriction)
Heart rate Tachycardia (increased) Bradycardia (decreased)
Bronchi Bronchodilatation Bronchoconstriction
Peripheral blood vessels Vasoconstriction Vasodilatation
Male Reproductive Organ Ejaculation Penile Erection
GIT motility Decreased Increased (defecation)
GIT sphincter Contraction Relaxation
Urinary bladder (Detrusor Relaxation Contraction (micturition)
muscle)
Urinary Sphincter Contraction Relaxation