Cranial Nerves and their Sensory Association Neurons

(Leona Melodia T. Matheus, MD, FPCS, FPSGS)

Cranial Nerves
-

12 pairs of nerves that serve mostly the head and neck

o
Except vagus also supplies thorax and abdomen
o
9 CNs have their nuclei within the brainstem

9 of them have their nuclei in the head except for CN XI

(spinal accessory) which originated in the neck. Spinal
accessory has two roots a cranial root and most of it is
from the cervical or neck or spinal cord actually.

The vagus nerve is called the wandering cranial nerve

because it serves up to the distal colon.

Classified by function as:

o
Purely sensory/afferent = I, II, VIII
o
Purely motor/efferent = III, IV, VI, XI, XII
o
Mixed = V, VII, IX, X

Functional Classification of Neurons

-

Sensory neurons (N1) - send impulses towards the CNS

o

Location: cerebral and spinal ganglia, or in a sensory organ e.g.

nose, eye, or ear

Sensory neurons are found outside the CNS, these are

found in the ganglia. In the spinal cord, it is called dorsal
root ganglion. In the cranial nerves, we have what we call
cerebral or cranial ganglia.

Each of your sensory cranial nerves has a ganglion.

Take note: sensory only.

Sensory neurons which will receive impulse from

receptor organ are in the ganglia and we call this N1. The
first time you receive an impulse, the first neuron that
will receive the impulse is N1.

Association neurons are the most numerous of the functional types

N1 or first order neuron

Most are multipolar (except for the bipolar neurons and ganglion
cells of the retina)

Location: entirely in the CNS (except for bipolar neurons and

ganglion cells of the retina)

The nucleus of facial is the nucleus of tractus solitarius

Motor neurons send impulses toward the effector organ (muscles

and glands)

Association / Internuncial neurons (Interneurons) carry

impulses from one neuron to the other

Higher centers: cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellar

cortex, diencephalons

Sensory Association neurons (N2) receive impulses from

sensory neuron

Lower centers: brainstem nuclei and nucleus gracilis, and

nucleus cuneatus of the spinal cord

Located in the sensory nuclei

In the spinal cord the sensory association neuron

(interneuron) is found in the dorsal horn. Dorsal horn has
nuclei and this is where the second neuron is found.
In the brain stem, these are found in the nuclei

Motor association neruons send impulses to the motor neuron

Shannen Kaye B. Apolinario, RMT

Functional Components of Cranial Nerves

-

Afferent impulses travel from periphery toward CNS

o

Somatic

General: pain, pressure, touch, temperature (GSA)

Special: hearing and balance (SSA)

There are two structures from where sensations may

arise and these are the somatic and visceral structures.

Only in the cranial nerves will you find special impulses

(special impulses are not found in the spinal mostly
general)

It is called special because only that certain organ can

receive that impulse. For example, for special somatic,
only the ear can receive hearing and responsible as well
for vestibular functions. And the eyes are the only one
capable of seeing.

General means that that sensation can be felt all over

the body or face.

Visceral

General: organ content and distension (GVA)

Special: taste, smell (SVA)

Taste and smell are considered special because these

sensations have to be dissolved first before they are
appreciated. For example, odours have to be dissolved by
the mucus before they get to be appreciated by the
olfactory cells. For that matter, for taste buds, the taste
has to be dissolved by saliva before they are appreciated
by the taste buds.

You have your first order neuron in the ganglion and

finally it goes within the brainstem where it goes into the
nuclei and will cross-over.

Cranial Nerves, Sensory Nerve Cell Bodies, Associated Nuclei, and

their Functions
Cranial
Nerve
I
Olfactory
II
Optic

Sensory
Nerve Cell
Bodies =
N1
Olfactory
nerve cell
Rods and
cones

Nucleus
(Interneurons) =
N2
Mitral cells in
olfactory bulb
Bipolar cells in
the retina
Mesencephalic
nucleus

Func.
Comp.

Function

SVA

Olfaction

SSA

Vision

GSA

Main sensory
nucleus

GSA

Somatic

General: to skeletal muscles (GSE)

Spinal nucleus

GSA

Visceral

General: to smooth muscles, cardiac muscles, glands

(GVE)

Special: to muscles of facial expression, mastication,

pharynx/larynx (SVE) [BRANCHIOMERIC MUSCLES]

Nucleus
solitarius

SVA

Geniculate
ganglion

Main sensory
nucleus and
spinal nucleus
of CN V

GSA

Vestibular
ganglion

Vestibular
nuclear
complex
Dorsal or
ventral
cochlear nuclei

SSA

Unconscious
proprioception
from muscles of
mastication
Discriminative
touch, vibration,
and conscious
proprioception
Pain and
temperature
from head
Taste from
anterior 2/3 of
the tongue
Sensory form
concha of
external ear,
external acoustic
meatus and
external surface
of tympanic
membrane
Balance

SSA

Hearing

SVA

Taste from
posterior 1/3 of
the tongue
Chemo and
baroreceptors in
the carotid body;
sensory from
tongue and
pharynx (gag
reflex)
Sensory from
posterior 3rd of
tongue, tonsil,
skin of external
ear, internal
surface of
tympanic
membrane,
pharynx
Sensory from
taste buds in the
epiglottis
Sensory from
larynx, trachea,
esophagus,
thoracic and
abdominal
viscera; Stretch

V
Trigeminal

Efferent impulses travel from CNS to the periphery

VII
Facial

Trigeminal/
Semilunar/
Gasserian

*** Note: No SSE (special somatic efferent)

Example: Chewing the food

Motor

Made or received by? Muscles of mastication

For efferent, muscles of mastication, phonation,
deglutition are considered special muscles. They are
muscles that are of branchial origin and they are
also considered as bulbar structures

VII
Vestibulocochlear

Spiral
ganglion

Three-neuron Plan of Ascending (Somatosensory) Pathways

IX
Glossopharyngeal

Inferior
glossopharyngeal
ganglion

Nucleus
solitarius

GVA

Superior
glossopharyngeal
ganglion

Main sensory
nucleus and
spinal nucleus
of CN V

GSA

SVA

X
Vagus

Shannen Kaye B. Apolinario, RMT

Inferior
vagal
ganglion

Nucleus
solitarius

GVA

Superior
and inferior
vagal
ganglion

Spinal nucleus
of CN V

GSA

receptors in
aortic arch and
chemoreceptors
in aortic bodies
adjacent to the
arch
Sensory from
posterior
meninges,
external acoustic
meatus, concha,
pharynx, larynx

CN I and II

CN I and II are found in the frontal lobe. They are not true
nerves, they are actually tracts olfactory and optic
tracts. Sensory nerve cell bodies or N1is supposed to be
ganglion, but these structures are one of those structures
where the neuron is not within the ganglion, it is actually
in an organ. For the smell, it is in the nose; for the vision,
it is in the eyes.
CN V

Example: Pinched you in the cheek

What branch of trigeminal nerve? Maxillary
What sensation was felt? Pain
Where will be its N1? Trigeminal ganglion
N2? Spinal nucleus
CN VII

Facial nerve has motor, sensory and parasympathetic

function. Its sensory function is to appreciate taste from
anterior 2/3 of tongue.

Correction: in the brainstem, it is on top of the motor

nucleus but the sensory nucleus of facial is in the nucleus
of tractus solitarius.

Another minor function of facial nerve is also sensory to

external surface of concha. Remember that there is a
cranial nerve that a branch is posterior auricular that
supplies the back of the ear.

CN VIII

Balance vestibular part

Hearing cochlear part

Vestibular ganglion is also called Scarpas ganglion

CN IX and X

Almost have the same functions.

Both involved in gag reflex.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your

God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my
righteous right hand.
-Isaiah 41:10
GOD BLESS YOU!
3

Shannen Kaye B. Apolinario, RMT