cranial nerves

where is the medulla oblongata? which things are regulated there?

it is above spinal cord. it is responsible for reflexes like breathing, heart rate, vomiting, salivation, coughing, sneezing, etc.

what is decussation?

crossing of nerves (right side of brain controls left side of body and vice versa)

compare and contrast cranial nerves and spinal nerves

both control sensory and motor information

cranial nerves do this for head and neck, spinal nerves do this for rest of body

mnemonic

oh oh oh to touch and feel a girl’s vajayjay. ah heaven

knowt wouldn’t let me use the actual v word cuz apparently it’s profanity even though it’s just a body part

I

olfactory. smell

II

optic. vision

III

eye movements, pupil constriction

IV

trochlear. eye movements

V

trigeminal. skin sensations for face, control of jaw muscles for chewing and swallowing

VI

abducens. eye movements

VII

facial. taste from anterior 2/3 of tongue, facial expressions

VIII

statoacoustic, acoustic, vestibulocochlear. hearing, balance

IX

glossopharyngeal. taste from posterior 1/3 of tongue, swallowing, salivation, throat movement during speech

X

vagus. sensations from neck and throat, control of throat, esophogus, and larynx, digestion, blood pressure, heart rate, main nerve of parasympathetic nervous system

XI

accessory. neck and shoulder movements

XII

hypoglossal. control of muscles in the tongue

sensory nerves

I, II, VIII (olfactory, optic, vestibulocochlear)

motor nerves

III, IV, VI, XI, XII (oculomotor, trochlear, abducens, accessory, hypoglossal)

both motor and sensory

V, VII, IX, X (trigeminal, facial, glossopharyngeal, vagus)

difference between III, IV, and VI

IV only controls the superior oblique muscle.

VI only controls the lateral rectus muscles.

III controls the rest of the muscles

which cranial nerves do facial movement and sensation?

V and VII (trigeminal and facial)

which cranial nerves have to do with speech?

VII, IX, X, XII (facial, glossopharyngeal, vagus, hypoglossal)

which cranial nerve heads outside the head/neck area? what does it do? why has it become the focus of a lot of research in recent years?

XI (accessory). it moves neck and shoulders. it has gotten a lot of research because people wonder if it is actually a cranial nerve or should be considered a spinal nerve

which cranial nerves have autonomic nervous system components?

III, VII, IX, X (oculomotor, facial, glossopharyngeal, vagus)

why is breaking your skull base possibly a problem for your cranial nerves?

most of the cranial nerves are located in/connected to the medulla. if the skull base is broken it could cut off supply to those nerves and damage/inhibit their functions