4. CRANIAL NERVE VI OR ABDUCENS
NERVE.
• abducens nucleus → only a somatic motor (general somatic
efferent) component
• Motor neurones supplying the ipsilateral lateral rectus, and
interneurones that pass through the medial longitudinal
fasciculus to the contralateral medial rectus.
• The abducens nucleus is located in the between the pons
and medulla oblongata.
• The sixth cranial nerve has a long subarachnoid course
• Innervates only one extra ocular muscle → Lateral rectus
muscle.
5.
6. Embryology:
• The human abducens nerve is derived
from the basal plate of
the embryonic pons.
7. COURSE
• Passes upwards & anterolaterally in
subarachnoid space of posterior cranial
fossa
• Pierces the arachnoid & dura lateral to
the dorsum sellae(part of the sphenoid
bone)
8. • Arises between the layers of dura on the
posterior surface of the petrous bone
near its apex.
• Turns anteriorly to traverse the cavernous
sinus
9. • Enters the orbit through the superior
orbital fissure within the annular tendon
to supply the lateral rectus muscle
10.
11.
12. NUCLEUS
• Situated near the
midline in the
tegmentum of the
pons ventral to the
colliculus facialis
• Colliculus facialis is
an elevation in the
floor of the 4th
ventricle , produced
by the genu of facial
nerve.
13.
14.
15. INTERNUCLEAR NEURON
• About 40% of its neurons project into the
ipsilateral MLF only to cross over to the
contralateral side and ascend to innervate
that contralateral medial rectus
subnucleus to participate in contralateral
eye adduction.
17. SUPERFICIAL EMERGENCE
• Emerges between
lower border of the
pons & lateral part of
the pyramid
• Emerge as seven or
eight rootlets
18. • abducens nerves are
about 1 cm apart
• Between them is the
Basilary Artery at its
formation from the two
vertebral Artery
• Lateral to each
abducens is the
emergence of the facial
Nerve at the lateral
side of the olive
19. 2.POSTERIOR CRANIAL FOSSA
Just after its emergence , the nerve is
crossed by the ANTERIOR INFERIOR
CEREBELLAR Artery
• Usually the artery is ventral , but it may
be dorsal or pass between the abducens
rootlets.
20. • Sleeved by the
piamater , it ascends
anterolaterally in the
cisterna pontis of the
subarachnoid space
between pons &
occipital bone
21. • At the upper border of the bone, it turns forward
at a right – angle under the Petro sphenoidal
ligament ( Gruber’s ligament )
• Thus passing through a canal called the Dorello’s
canal, to enter the cavernous sinus with the
inferior petrosal sinus
• Often the nerve pierces the inferior sinus,
entering the cavernous sinus within the inferior
petrosal sinus
26. Nerve is inferolateral to the horizontal
portion of the internal carotid artery with
its sympathetic plexus , which may
communicate with the nerve
27. • In the lateral wall of the
sinus , in descending
order are
• Oculomotor Nerve
• Trochlear Nerve
• Ophthalmic Nerve
• Maxillary Nerve
abducens nerve is
usually in the sinus,
with a separate sheath
28. 4.SUPERIOR ORBITAL FISSURE
• Traverses the fissure
within the annulus of
Zinn
• At 1st below the
division of
oculomotor Nerve
• Then between them
& lateral to
nasociliary nerve
29.
30. 5.IN THE ORBIT
• Nerve divides into 3
or 4 filaments which
enter the ocular
surface of lateral
rectus muscle behind
its midpoint
31.
32. Coordination of Lateral Rectus and
Medial Rectus Muscles
• For eye movements in the horizontal plane, the lateral rectus muscle of
one eye and the medial rectus muscle of the other eye must work
precisely together.
• The actions of these muscles is coordinated by the lateral gaze center
located in the pontine reticular formation.
• Inputs from higher centers of the brain synapse in the lateral gaze center,
which then sends simultaneous signals to the ipsilateral abducens nucleus
and to the contralateral occulomotor nucleus via the medial longitudinal
fasciculus.
• The abducens nucleus sends signals via CN VI to the lateral rectus muscle
of the ipsilateral orbit to command that eye to be abducted.
• Simultaneously, the occulomotor nucleus generates a command via CN III
to contract the medial rectus muscle of the contralateral orbit resulting in
adduction of that eye.
33. BLOOD SUPPLY:
• Anterior inferior cerebellar artery, the
posterior inferior cerebellar artery, the
internal auditory artery, the anterolateral
artery, the pontomedullary artery, the
inferolateral pontine artery, the
anterolateral artery
• The majority of the of the abducens
nerves were supplied by the anterolateral
arteries, and only some of them by the
AICA, or the pontomedullary artery.
35. 1. At the level of nucleus
• Ipsilateral weakness of
abduction
• Failure of horizontal
gaze towards the side of
lesion.
• Ipsilateral facial nerve
palsy (lower motor
neurone)→involvement of
facial fasciculus.
36. AN ISOLATED 6TH NERVE PALSY IS
THEREFORE NEVER NUCLEAR IN ORIGIN.
In adults, the most likely etiology of
isolated sixth nerve palsy is ischemic
mononeuropathy that may be due to
diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerosis,
hypertension, temporal arteritis or
anemia
37. 2.PONTINE SYNDROMES – AT THE LEVEL OF FASCICULUS
• MILLARD GUBLER
SYNDROMEM
• RAYMOND CESTON
SYNDROMER
• FOVILLE SYNDROME
F
38. A. Foville syndrome
Involves fasciculus as it
passes through PPRF
5th nerve – facial
anaesthesia
6th nerve + gaze palsy
7th nerve – facial
weakness
8th nerve – deafness
Central horner
syndrome
39.
40.
41. B. Millard – Gubler syndrome
Involves fasciculus as
it passes through the
pyramidal tract
Ipsilateral 6th nerve
palsy
Contralateral
hemiplegia (paralysis)
42. C. Raymond – Ceston syndrome
Due to tumor of cerebral peduncles
Red nucleus – speech & gait disorder
Paralysis of lateral conjugate gaze
Ipsilateral 6th Nerve palsy
5th nerve – facial anaesthesia
Contralateral hemiparesis
43.
44. 3. At the pontomedullary junction:
ACOUSTIC NEUROMA:
• May damage the 6th
nerve → pontomedullary
junction.
• 1ST symptom –
hearing loss
• 1st sign - ↓ corneal
sensitivity
45. It is very important to test
hearing & corneal sensation in all
patients with 6th nerve palsy
46. 4. In the basilar course
A. Raised intracranial
tension:
• Downward displacement
of brainstem
• Stretching of 6th nerve
over petrous tip
• Bilateral 6th nerve palsy –
false localizing sign
48. D. GRADENIGO’S SYNDROME:
• Mastoiditis/acute
Petrositis
• - damage to 6th nerve at
the petrous tip.
• Facial weakness
• Pain
• Hearing difficulties
49. 5. INTRACAVERNOUS PART
• Situated close to the
internal carotid Artery
• More likely to
damage than other
cranial nerves
Intra cavernous 6th
nerve palsy is
accompanied by a
postganglionic
Horner’s syndrome
50. CLINICAL PRESENTATION
• HISTORY:
– Esotropia
– Head-turn
– Binocular diplopia (worse at distance)
– Vision loss
– Pain
– Hearing loss
– Symptoms of vasculitis, particularly giant cell
arteritis
– Trauma
53. BCQ’S:
1. True statements of the abducens nerve
except:
a) Arises from the medulla
b) Passes under the petrosphenoidal ligament
c) May cross two venous sinuses in its course
d) Enters the orbit between the two divisions of III
e) May be damaged by raised intracranial pressure
54. • The abducens nerve nucleus:
a) Lies ventral to the genu of VII
b) Communicates indirectly with the nucleus of III
c) Sends fibres through Dorello's canal
d) Innervates lateral rectus on its extraconal surface