Cranial Nerves I through VIII

This week we covered anatomy of the brain and spinal cord and the blood flow to and from the brain. We the first Discussed seven cranial nerves; The Olfactory I, Optic II, Oculomotor III, Trochlear IV, Trigeminal V, Abducens VI, Facial Nerves VII.

Cranial nerves III, IV and VI are all motor nerves that pass through the Superior Orbital Fissure and control movement of the muscles that move the eyeball and eyelids. The Oculomotor nerve III controls the Superior Rectus, Inferior Rectus, Inferior Oblique and the Medial Rectus muscles of the eye. The Trochlear nerve IV controls the Superior Oblique muscle of the eye. The Abducens nerve VI controls the Lateral Rectus muscle of the eye.

Cranial Nerves I, II, and VIII are all sensory nerves with afferent impulses. The Olfactory Nerve I function is the sense of smell and passes through the Olfactory Foramina of the cribriform plate of the Ethmoid bone. The Optic nerve II is for vision and passes through the Optic Foramen of the Sphenoid bone. The Vestibulocochlear nerve VIII conveys impulses related to equilibrium and hearing and passes through the Internal Acoustic Meatus of the Temporal bone.

Cranial nerve V, the Trigeminal nerve, is a mixed nerve and has three branches, the Ophthalmic, Maxillary, and the Mandibular branch. The Ophthalmic (V1) branch passes through the Superior Orbital Fissure and is a sensory nerve. It has axons in the skin of the forehead, nasal cavity, upper eyelid, and eyebrow. The Maxillary (V2) branch is also sensory and passes through the Foramen Rotundum of the sphenoid bone. It has axons in the Superior lip, superior gums superior teeth, and palate. And the Mandibular (V3) branch is both motor and sensory and passes through the Foramen Oval of the sphenoid bone. The sensory axons are found in the inferior lip, inferior gums, and inferior teeth. The motor axons are found in the Masseter, Temporalis, and the Pterygoids muscles.

If you're still awake I applaud you. Because that is about the most boring read there is so I'm not going to put in the pathway the blood flows to the brain. And I can't think of anything in my life that I can relate to the cranial nerves