Cranial Nerves and Associated Foramina - Laboratory Identifications: Study Guide for Cranial Nerve Handout with Skull in Hand

Olfactory Nerve (CN1)

• Functional component(s)
• Cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone
• Crista Galea
• Foramen cecum
• Ethmoidal air cells
• Frontal air sinus

Optic Nerve (CN2)

• Functional component(s)
• Optic canal
• Lesser wing of the sphenoid bone
• Chiasmatic groove
• Anterior lip of chiasmatic groove
• Anterior clinoid process
• Tuberculum sellae
• Hypophyseal fossa
• Dorsum sellae
• Ophthalmic artery
• Central artery of the retina
• Nasocilary nerve
• Annulus tendineus

Oculomotor Nerve (CN3)

• Functional component(s)
• Superior orbital fissure
• Lesser wing of the sphenoid bone
• Greater wing of the sphenoid bone
• Cavernous sinus
• Carotid siphon
• Superior and inferior divisions
• Ciliary ganglion
• Annulus tendineus

Trochlear Nerve (CN4)

• Functional component(s)
• Superior orbital fissure
• Cavernous sinus
• Annulus tendineus

Trigeminal Nerve (CN5) - Ophthalmic Division

• Functional component(s)
• Superior orbital fissure
• Lacrimal nerve - functional component proximal and distal, distribution
• Frontal nerve - medial and lateral branches, supraorbital nerve, distribution
• Supratrochlear nerve - relationship the the trochlea, distribution
• Nasociliary nerve - relationship to optic nerve, distribution
• Annulus tendineus
• Sensory root of ciliary ganglion, elaborates branches of short ciliary nerves
• Long ciliary nerves - GSA cornea
• Short ciliary nerves - Native and non-native functional components, distribution
• Posterior ethmoidal nerve - distribution
• Anterior ethmoidal nerve - distribution and pathways leading to the bridge of the nose
• Infratrochlear nerve - relationship to the trochlea, distribution

Trigeminal Nerve (CN5) - Maxillary Division (Hang on to Your Hat)

• Functional component(s)
• Foramen Rotundum - middle cranial fossa to pterygopalatine fossa
  • Transmits maxillary nerve
• Pterygoid Canal - middle cranial fossa to pterygopalatine fossa
  • Transmits the nerve of the pterygoid canal (Vidian nerve)
  • Anterior lip of the lacerate foramen
  • Carotid groove
  • Sphenoid air sinus
• Nerve of the pterygoid canal - functional components and parent nerves, distribution
  • Hiatus of the canal for the greater superficial petrosal nerve
  • Groove for the greater superficial petrosal nerve (VII)
  • Intracranial opening of the carotid canal at the lacerate foramen
  • Internal carotid plexus
  • Deep petrosal nerve
  • Apex of the petrous portion of the temporal bone
• Pharyngeal Canal - pterygopalatine fossa to nasopharynx
  • Transmits pharyngeal nerve to nasopharynx, native and non-native functional components, distribution
  • Ala of the vomer
  • Vaginal process of medial pterygoid plate
  • Perpendicular plate of the palatine bone
  • Palatovaginal canal (pharyngeal canal)
• Lesser palatine canal - pterygopalatine fossa to oral cavity
  • Transmits lesser palatine nerve to soft palate, native and non-native functional components, distribution
  • Medial pterygoid plate
  • Hamulus - tensor veli palatini
  • Perpendicular plate of the palatine bone
• Greater palatine canal - pterygopalatine fossa to oral cavity
  • Transmits greater palatine nerve to hard palate, native and non-native functional components, distribution
  • Sphenopalatine palatine - why so named?
• Sphenopalatine foramen - pterygopalatine fossa to nasal cavity
  • Transmits lateral posterior nasal nerves and nasopalatine nerve to nasal cavity, native and non-native functional components, distribution
  • Superior, middle, and inferior nasal chonchae (turbinates when covered with erectile tissue)
  • Superior, middle, and inferior nasal meatae and associated drainages
  • Perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone
  • Vomer
  • Uncinate process, ethmoidal bulla, infundibulum, and hiatus semilunaris
  • Sphenoethmoidal recess - drainage of sphenoid sinus
• Inferior orbital fissure - pterygopalatine fossa to orbit
  • Greater wing of the sphenoid bone and the maxilla
  • Transmits maxillary nerve and zygomatic nerve to the orbit
  • Infraorbital nerve - native and non-native functional components, distribution
  • Zygomatic nerve - native and non-native functional components
  • Zygomaticofacial nerve - native and non-native functional components, distribution
  • Zygomaticotemporal nerve - native and non-native functional components, distribution
  • Lacrimal nerve (from ophathalmic division of trigeminal) - native and non-native functional components, distribution
  • Infraorbital groove, infraorbital canal, and infraorbital foramen
  • Middle superior alveolar nerve, native and non-native functional components, distribution
  • Anterior superior alveolar nerve, native and non-native functional components, distribution
• Pterygomaxillary fissure - pterygopalatine fossa to infratemporal fossa
  • Anterior border of the lateral pterygoid plate and posterior border of maxilla
  • Transmits posterior superior alveolar nerve, native and non-native functional components, distribution
  • Transmits terminal branches of maxillary artery

Trigeminal Nerve (CN5) - Mandibular Division

• Functional component(s)

Abducens Nerve (CN6)

• Functional component(s)

Facial Nerve (CN7)

• Functional component(s)

Vestibulocochlear Nerve (CN8)

• Functional component(s)

Glossopharyngeal Nerve (CN9)

• Functional component(s)

Vagus Nerve (CN10)

• Functional component(s)

Accessory Nerve (CN11)

• Functional component(s)

Hypoglossal Nerve (CN12)

• Functional component(s)

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