Lecture class of 30/04/2012

1. Functional
components of
cranial nerves
Dr. Ashfaqur Rahman
MBBS, MPhil (Anatomy)
Assistant Professor (Anatomy)
Jahurul Islam Medical College

2. FUNCTIONAL COMPONENTS of cranial nerves
AFFERENT/SENSORY
SOMATIC VISCERAL
GENERAL SPECIAL GENERAL SPECIAL
GSA: Carries general somatic senses (touch, pain, temperature, pressure, vibration)
& proprioceptive senses from muscles & joints.
GVA: Carries general senses from viscera.
SSA: Carries special senses of vision, hearing & equilibrium. (EYE & EAR).
SVA: Carries special senses of smell & taste. (NOSE & TONGUE).
CRANIAL NERVES WITH AFFERENT/SENSORY FIBERS
C1,2,5,7,8,9,10
(C1,2,8-PURE SENSORY)
(C5,7,9,10-MIXED)
(C1,2,7,8,9,10-SPECIAL SENSE CARRYING CRANIAL NERVES )

3. EFFERENT/MOTOR
SOMATIC VISCERAL
GENERAL SPECIAL GENERAL SPECIAL
GSE: Supplies skeletal muscles of somatic (somite/myotome) origin.
GVE: Supplies smooth muscles, cardiac muscles & glands (autonomic).
SVE: Supplies skeletal muscles of visceral/branchial/pharyngeal arch origin.
CRANIAL NERVES WITH EFFERENT/MOTOR FIBERS
C3,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12
(C3,4,6,11,12-PURE MOTOR)
(C5,7,9,10-MIXED)
(C3,7,9,10-PARASYMPATHETIC CARRYING CRANIAL NERVES)
Note: Functional components of spinal nerve are-GSE, GVE, GSA, GVA.
GVE components of spinal nerve are mainly sympathetic fibers, whereas GVE
components of cranial nerves are exclusively parasympathetic fibers.

4. Main motor nucleus Edinger-Westphal nucleus Trochlear nucleus Abducent nucleus
GSE GVE GSE GSE
Ciliary ganglion
Extraocular muscles 5 Extraocular muscles 1 Extraocular muscles 1
Intraocular muscles 2
(Skeletal muscle of (Skeletal muscle of (Skeletal muscle of
(Smooth muscle)
non-arch origin) non-arch origin) non-arch origin)

5. Motor nucleus Mesencephalic Main sensory Spinal
nucleus nucleus nucleus
GSA GSA GSA
SVE
Trigeminal ganglion
Proprioceptive
Pain & temperature sensation
Muscles of 1st arch sensation Touch & pressure
(from trigeminal area and
(Skeletal muscle of (muscles of sensation (from
also from glossopharyngeal
arch origin) mastication, trigeminal area)
and vagus nerve)
face, tongue, orbit)

6. Motor nucleus Lacrimatory nucleus Superior salivatory nucleus Nucleus of tractus Spinal nucleus of
solitarius 5th nerve
SVA GVA GSA
SVE GVE GVE
Geniculate ganglion
Pterygo-palatine ganglion
Submandibular ganglion
Submandibular & External
Lacrimal gland Taste sensation General sensation
Muscles of 2nd arch sublingual Ear
Nasal, palatine & (ant 2/3rd of glands supplied
Skeletal muscle of arch origin) and other minor Meninges of
oral gland tongue) by motor fibers
salivary gland PCF

7. Motor nucleus Inferior salivatory nucleus Nucleus of tractus solitarius Spinal nucleus of 5th nerve
(nucleus ambiguus)
SVA GVA
GSA
SVE GVE
Superior ganglion
Inferior ganglion
Otic ganglion
General sensation
from tongue
(post 1/3), soft palate, General somatic
Taste sensation sensation
Muscles of 3 arch
rd
oropharynx,
(post 1/3rd of tongue (pain, touch, temp) from
(stylopharyngeus) Parotid gland Tympanic cavity,
& adjacent external ear, meninges
Skeletal muscle of arch origin) auditory tube,
pharyngeal wall) of PCF
carotid body, sinus

8. Motor nucleus Dorsal nucleus Nucleus of tractus solitarius Spinal nucleus of 5th ner
(Nucleus ambiguus)
GVA
SVA GSA
GVE
SVE Superior ganglion
Inferior ganglion
Intramural ganglion
General sensation
from
Muscles of 4th & 6th arch Thoracic & abdominal Taste sensation laryngo-pharyngeal General sensation
(Muscles of pharynx, larynx & and laryngeal from external ear
organs (most post part of
soft palate with few exceptions) mucosa, Meninges of posterior
Glands of pharyngeal
(Skeletal muscle of arch origin) tongue/epiglottis) Viscera of thorax, cranial fossa
& laryngeal mucosa
abdomen. CB

9. Cranial accessory nucleus Spinal accessory nucleus Hypoglossal nucleus
SVE SVE GSE
Muscles of the tongue
Muscles of soft palate, pharynx and larynx Sternocleidomastoid and Trapezius
developed from occipital myotome
(Skeletal muscle of arch origin) (Skeletal muscle)
(Skeletal muscle of non-arch origin)

10. SVE GSE GVE
SVA GVA SSA GSA

11. OLFACTORY NERVE
SVE GSE GVE
SVA GVA SSA GSA

12. OPTIC NERVE
SVE GSE GVE
SVA GVA SSA GSA

13. OCULOMOTOR NERVE
SVE GSE GVE
SVA GVA SSA GSA

14. TROCHLEAR NERVE
SVE GSE GVE
SVA GVA SSA GSA

15. TRIGEMINAL NERVE
SVE GSE GVE
SVA GVA SSA GSA

16. ABDUCENT NERVE
SVE GSE GVE
SVA GVA SSA GSA

17. FACIAL NERVE
SVE GSE GVE
SVA GVA SSA GSA

18. VESTIBULOCHCHLEAR NERVE
SVE GSE GVE
SVA GVA SSA GSA

19. GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL NERVE
SVE GSE GVE
SVA GVA SSA GSA

20. VAGUS NERVE
SVE GSE GVE
SVA GVA SSA GSA

21. ACCESSORY NERVE
SVE GSE GVE
SVA GVA SSA GSA

22. HYPOGLOSSAL NERVE
SVE GSE GVE
SVA GVA SSA GSA