Cranial nerves

Question 1

Which CN passes through the cribriform plate?

Answer 1

CN I

Question 2

Which CN passes through the optic canal?

Answer 2

CN II

Question 3

Which 4 CN’s pass through the superior orbital fissure?

Answer 3

CN III
CN IV
CN VI
CN Va

Question 4

Which CN passes through the foramen rotundum?

Answer 4

CN Vb

Question 5

Which CN passes through the foramen ovale?

Which nerve?

Which artery?

Answer 5

CN Vc

Lesser petrosal nerve

Accessory meningeal artery

Question 6

Which artery passes through the foramen spinosum?

Which nerve?

Answer 6

Middle meningeal artery

Meningeal nerve

Question 7

Which skull foramen does the internal carotid artery pass over?

Answer 7

Foramen lacerum

Question 8

Which 2 CN’s pass through the internal acoustic meatus?

Answer 8

CN VII
CN VIII

Question 9

Which 3 CN’s pass through the jugular foramen?

Which vein?

Answer 9

CN IX
CN X
CN XI

Internal jugular vein

Question 10

Which CN passes through the hypoglossal canal?

Answer 10

CN XII

Question 11

Which 3 nuclei are involved in the pupillary light reflex?

Answer 11

Pretectal nucleus
Edinger Westphal nucleus
Lateral geniculate nucleus

Question 12

The pretectal nuclei are linked together by what?

Answer 12

Posterior commissure

Question 13

The pretectal nuclei are linked to the Edinger Westphal nuclei by what?

Answer 13

Interneurons

Question 14

In the pupillary light reflex, where do parasympathetic fibres synapse?

Answer 14

Ciliary ganglion

Question 15

Which 5 CN’s and artery pass through the cavernous sinus?

Answer 15

CN III
CN IV
CN VI
CN Va
CN Vb
Internal carotid artery

Question 16

With a CN IV lesion, what will be the position of the patients eye?

Answer 16

Upwards + outwards

Question 17

With which 2 conditions is CN VI at risk of compression?

Why?

Answer 17

Raised ICP - passes sharply over the petrous portion of the temporal bone

ICA aneurysm in cavernous sinus - passes close to it

Question 18

With a CN VI lesion, what will be the position of the patients eye?

Answer 18

Slightly adducted

Question 19

CN Vc divides into which 2 main branches?

Answer 19

Lingual nerve
Inferior alveolar nerve

Question 20

The inferior alveolar nerve becomes which nerve?

Answer 20

Mental nerve

Question 21

Which 3 nerve branches does CN VII give off in the facial canal?

Answer 21

Greater petrosal nerve (parasym. to lacrimal gland and salivary glands)

Stapedius nerve

Chorda tympani

Question 22

As CN VII passes through the parotid gland, which nerve branch does it give off?

Answer 22

Posterior auricular nerve

Question 23

If a patient had paralysis of their muscles of facial expression but had not lost function of the salivary glands, no hyperacusis, and no loss of sensory to the ear, where is the lesion likely to be?

Answer 23

Parotid gland area

Question 24

What are the 5 terminal branches of CN VII?

Answer 24

Temporal
Zygomatic
Buccal
Marginal mandibular
Cervical

Question 25

An acoustic neuroma typically begins by growing on the covering of which CN?

Answer 25

CN VIII

Question 26

Which test can be used to assess for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo? What would a positive finding be?

Answer 26

Dix-Hallpike test Rotational nystagmus

Question 27

After CN IX exits through the jugular foramen, which 2 arteries does it pass between?

Answer 27

Internal + external carotid arteries