Somatic Afferent (SA) Pathways of the Oculomotor, Trochlear, and Abducent Nerves

Question 1

What do somatic afferent (SA) pathways monitor?

Answer 1

• pain
• temperature
• light touch
• proprioception

Question 2

Does the apparent origin of cranial nerves III, IV, and VI contain SA fibers?

Answer 2

no

Question 3

What part of the III, IV, or VI cranial nerve contains SA fibers?

Answer 3

only the distal part of the nerve

Question 4

Peripheral sensory processes conveyed in the III, IV, or VI cranial nerve will communicate with which cranial nerve branch?

Answer 4

ophthalmic division of trigeminal

Question 5

Peripheral sensory processes conveyed in the III, IV, or VI cranial nerve travel to pseudounipolar sensory neuron cell bodies located in which ganglion?

Answer 5

Gasserian ganglion, semilunar ganglion, or trigeminal ganglion

Question 6

Central sensory processes from the Gasserian ganglion are conveyed to the pons in what structure?

Answer 6

the sensory root of the trigeminal nerve

Question 7

Typically, primary afferent neurons of the III, IV, or VI cranial nerve located in the semilunar ganglion will synapse in what nucleus?

Answer 7

spinal trigeminal nucleus

Question 8

Recently, peripheral sensory processes conveyed in the III, IV, or VI cranial nerve have been shown to originate from primary afferent neurons in which location?

Answer 8

mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal nerve

Question 9

In the SA pathway of cranial nerve III, IV, or VI, neurons within the mesencephalic nucleus may synapse at what locations?

Answer 9

• oculomotor nuclear complex for III
• trochlear motor nucleus for IV
• abducent/abducens motor nucleus for VI
• spinal trigeminal nucleus