Brain Stem and Cranial Nerves

Question 1

Which cranial nerve nuclei lie medially at brain stem?

Answer 1

III, IV, VI, XII. (Factors of 12 except not 1 and 2).

Question 2

In the organization of cranial nerve nuclei, which nuclei lie laterally?

Answer 2

Sensory nuclei (alar plate)

Question 3

In the organization of cranial nerve nuclei, which nuclei lie medially?

Answer 3

Motor nuclei (basal plate).

Question 4

Which nuclei are located in the midbrain?

Answer 4

3, 4

Question 5

Which nuclei are located in the pons?

Answer 5

5,6,7,8

Question 6

Which nuclei are located in the medulla?

Answer 6

9, 10, 12

Question 7

Which nuclei are located in the spinal cord?

Answer 7

11

Question 8

What is the pineal gland responsible for?

Answer 8

melatonin secretion, circadian rhythms

Question 9

What are the superior colliculi responsible for?

Answer 9

Conjugate vertical gaze

Question 10

What are the inferior colliculi responsible for?

Answer 10

Auditory

Question 11

What is parinaud syndrome?

Answer 11

Paralysis of conjugate vertical gaze due to lesion in superior colliculi

Question 12

What can cause parinuad syndrome?

Answer 12

Stroke, hydrocephalus, pinealoma

Question 13

Which cranial nerve exits via the cribiform plate?

Answer 13

CN I

Question 14

Which foramina are part of the middle cranial fossa through the sphenoid bone?

Answer 14

Optic canal
Superior Orbital Fissure
Foramen Rotundum
Foramen Ovale
Foramen spinosum

Question 15

What exits via the Optic canal?

Answer 15

CN II, opthalmic artery, central retinal vein

Question 16

What exits via the Superior Orbital Fissure?

Answer 16

• CN III, IV, VI. V1 of CN 5.

- Opthalmic vein, sympathetic fibers

Question 17

What exits via the Foramen Rotundum?

Answer 17

CN V2.

Question 18

What exits via the Foramen Ovale?

Answer 18

CN V3.

Question 19

What exits via the foramen spinosum?

Answer 19

Middle meningeal artery

Question 20

Which foramina are part of the posterior cranial fossa through the temporal or occiptal bones?

Answer 20

Internal auditory meatus
Jugular foramen
Hypoglossal canal
Foramen Magnum

Question 21

What exits via the internal auditory meatus?

Answer 21

CN VII, VIII

Question 22

What exits via the jugular foramen?

Answer 22

CN IX, X, XI, jugular vein

Question 23

What exits via the hypoglossal canal?

Answer 23

CN XII.

Question 24

What exits via the foramen magnum?

Answer 24

Spinal roots of CN XI, brain stem, vertebral arteries.

Question 25

What are the vagal nuclei?

Answer 25

nucleus solitaris, nucleus ambiguous, dorsal motor nucleus

Question 26

What does the Nucleus Solitarius do?

Answer 26

visceral Sensory info - taste, baroreceptors, gut distention. 7,9,10.

Question 27

What does the nucleus aMbiguous do?

Answer 27

Motor innervation of pharynx, larynx, upper eso - swallowing, palate elevation. 9, 10, 11.

Question 28

What does the dorsal motor nucleus do?

Answer 28

Sends autonomic (parasympathetic) fibers to heart, lungs, upper GI. Just vagal nerve.

Question 29

What are the afferent and efferent branches of the corneal reflex?

Answer 29

Afferent: V1 opthalmic (nasociliary branch) Efferent: VII (temporal branch, orbicularis oculi).

Question 30

What are the afferent and efferent branches of the lacrimation reflex?

Answer 30

Afferent: V1 (emotional tears preserved even w/ loss of reflex) Efferent: VII.

Question 31

What are the afferent and efferent branches of the jaw jerk reflex?

Answer 31

Afferent: V3 - sensory muscle spindle from masseter Efferent: V3 - motor, masseter

Question 32

What are the afferent and efferent branches of the pupillary reflex?

Answer 32

Afferent: II Efferent: III

Question 33

What are the afferent and efferent branches of the gag reflex?

Answer 33

Afferent: IX Efferent: X

Question 34

What lesion causes jaw deviation TOWARDS side of lesion?

Answer 34

CN V motor lesion - unopposed force from opposite pterygoid muscle

Question 35

What lesion causes uvula deviation AWAY from side of lesion?

Answer 35

CN X lesion. Weak side collapses and uvula points away.

Question 36

What lesion causes weakness turning head to contralateral side of lesion (SCM) + shoulder droop on side of lesion (trapezius)?

Answer 36

CN XI lesion.

Question 37

What lesion causes tongue deviation towards side of lesion?

Answer 37

CN XII. Due to weakened tongue muscles on affected side.