Figure 1: Schematic summarizing the origin and general distribution of the cranial nerves.
Figure 2: Location of the branchial motor and somatic motor cranial nerve nuclei.
Figure 3: Schematic showing the parasympathetic cranial nerve pathways.
Figure 4: Somatic sensory pathway of the Trigeminal nerve (CN V).
Figure 5: Schematic showing the cranial nerves that carry special sensory information.
Figure 6: Special sensory information: Visual pathway involving the optic nerve (CN II).
Figure 7: Special sensory information: Peripheral portion of the gustatory (taste) pathway
involving the facial (CN VII), glossopharyngeal (CN IX) and vagus (CN X) nerves.
Figure 8: Special sensory information: Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII) carries information
related to hearing (cochlear n.) and head position and movement (vestibular n.).
Figure 9: Special sensory information: Olfactory pathway involving the olfactory nerve (CN I).
Cranial Nerve
Sensory or
motor?
Components
Location of
Neuronal Cell
bodies
Olfactory nerve (CN
I)
Sensory
Special Sensory
1st order neurons:
Olfactory epithelium
Optic nerve (CN II)
Sensory
Special Sensory
1st order neurons:
Retina
Oculomotor nerve
(CN III)
Motor
Somatic Motor
Nucleus of Oculomotor
nerve
Visceral Motor
(Parasympathetic)
Preganglionic: EdingerWestphal nucleus
Postganglionic: Ciliary
ganglion
Trochlear nerve (CN
IV)
Motor
Somatic Motor
Nucleus of Trochlear
nerve
Trigeminal nerve (CN
V)
Both
Somatic
(Branchial) Motor
Motor nucleus of
Trigeminal nerve
Somatic Sensory
1st order neurons:
Trigeminal ganglion
Abducens nerve (CN
VI)
Motor
Somatic Motor
Nucleus of Abducens
nerve
Facial nerve (CN VII)
Both
Somatic
(Branchial) Motor
Motor nucleus of Facial
n.
Visceral Motor
(Parasympathetic)
Preganglionic: superior
salivatory nucleus
Postganglionic:
Pterygopalatine
ganglion
Submandibular
ganglion
Special Sensory
1st order neurons:
Geniculate ganglion
Vestibulocochlear
nerve (CN VIII)
Sensory
Special Sensory
1st order neurons:
Vestibular ganglion &
Cochlear (spiral)
ganglion
Glossopharyngeal
nerve (CN IX)
Both
Somatic
(Branchial) Motor
Nucleus Ambiguus
Visceral Motor
(Parasympathetic)
Preganglionic: Inferior
Salivatory Nucleus
Postganglionic: Otic
ganglion
Somatic Sensory
1st order neurons:
Superior ganglion of
Glossopharyngeal nerve
Visceral Sensory
1st order neurons:
Inferior (Petrosal)
ganglion of
Glossopharyngeal nerve
Special Sensory
Vagus nerve (CN X)
Both
Somatic
(Branchial) Motor
Nucleus Ambiguus
Visceral Motor
(Parasympathetic)
Preganglionic: Dorsal
Motor Nucleus of the
Vagus n.
Postganglionic: Cardiac,
pulmonary & myenteric
ganglia
Somatic Sensory
1st order neurons:
Superior Ganglion of
Vagus nerve
Visceral Sensory
1st order neurons:
Inferior Ganglion of
Vagus nerve
Special Sensory
Accessory nerve (CN
XI)
Hypoglossal nerve
(CN XII)
UNLABELLED
Motor
Motor
Somatic
(Branchial) motor
(cranial portion
of nerve)
Nucleus Ambiguus
Somatic Motor
(spinal portion of
nerve)
Nucleus of Spinal
Accessory nerve
Somatic Motor
Nucleus of Hypoglossal
nerve
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