Cranial Nerve Modalities

Question 1

General Visceral Efferent

Answer 1

General Visceral Efferent (GVE) fibers are associated with the parasympathetic fibers coursing in the III, VII, IX and X cranial nerves.

innervation of smooth muscle and glands

Question 2

General visceral afferent

Answer 2

General Visceral Afferent (GVA) fibers convey visceral pain (stretch, ischemia) and reflexes. The vagus nerve has a huge distribution of GVA fibers to the mucosae of the posterior 1/3 of the tongue to the mid-portion of the transverse colon. It also innervates the epithelial lining to the respiratory system (except the anterior 1/3 and 2/3 of the nasal and oral cavities, respectively), and cardiac blood vessels.

innervate structures of ectodermal origin
dull, aching, burning, poorly localized sensations

Question 3

General somatic efferent

Answer 3

innervate muscles of myotomic origin, specifically the extraocular muscles and intrinsic muscles of the tongue.

Question 4

General somatic afferent

Answer 4

General Somatic Afferent (GSA) fibers convey pain, temperature, tactile, pressure and proprioception, primarily conveyed by the trigeminal nerve.

sharp, highly localized sensations

Question 5

Special visceral afferent

Answer 5

fibers convey olfactory (smell) and taste information. The taste buds of the anterior 2/3 and posterior 1/3 of the tongue are innervated by the VII and IX nerves, respectively.

Question 6

Special visceral efferent

Answer 6

fibers innervate muscles of branchiomeric origin, such as the muscles of mastication (V), facial expression (VII), and larynx and pharynx (X, except stylopharyngeus—IX).

Question 7

Special somatic afferent

Answer 7

fibers are associated with the optic (II) and vestibule-cochlear (VIII) nerves

Question 8

Nucleus Tractus Solitarius (NTS)

Answer 8

Solitary Nucleus (SVA and GVA) Nucleus Tractus Solitarius (NTS)
The solitary nucleus (NTS) is the sensory nucleus for general sensations from the posterior 1/3 of the tongue to the mid-portion of the transverse colon. The solitary nucleus receives taste (SVA) information from the anterior 2/3's of the tongue via VII; the posterior 1/3 of the tongue via IX; and the epiglottis via X. It is the sensory nucleus for many visceral reflexes involving structures in the head and neck (salivary, lacrimation, carotid, gag and cough reflexes), and organs in the thorax and most of the abdomen.

Question 9

Trigeminal Sensory Nuclei

Answer 9

Trigeminal Sensory Nuclei (GSA)
The trigeminal sensory complex is the sensory nucleus for all sensations from the face. All GSA fibers from cranial nerves V, VII, IX, and X terminate in some part of the
trigeminal sensory nucleus, which
includes three nuclei. The
mesencephalic nucleus of V
receives proprioception
information from the facial
muscles. The main sensory
nucleus of V receives precise
tactile discrimination information
from the face. The descending nucleus
of V receives crude tactile, pain,
temperature information from the face.

Question 10

General Somatic Efferent “column” nuclei

Answer 10

all motor nuclei

Oculomotor nuclei (III)–> superior, medial, inferior recti, inferior obliques, levator palpebrae superioris

Trochlear nuclei (IV)--> superior oblique 
Abducens nuclei  (VI)--> lateral rectus 
Hypoglossal nuclei (XII) --> all m. of tongue except palatoglossal

Question 11

Edinger westphal nucleus
Is what
Goes to what
Does what

Answer 11

Motor nuclei of CN III

EWN—–> Cillary ganglion –> sphincter pupillae and ciliary mm of eye

Question 12

Superior Salivatory nucleus
Is what
Goes to what
Does what

Answer 12

Motor nuclei of CN VII

SSN —–> Sphenopalatine Ganglion AND Submandibular ganglia —–> Submandib ganglia branches to subamandibular gland/sublingual glands + sphenopalatine ganglion branches to lacrimal gland

Question 13

Inferior salivatory nucleus
Is what
Goes to what
Does what

Answer 13

motor nuclei of CN IX

ISN –> otic ganglion –> parotid + salivatory gland

Question 14

Dorsal Motor nucleus
Is what
Goes to what
Does what

Answer 14

sends preganglionic fibers to the scattered ganglia in the larynx, pharynx, thorax, and abdomen