ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM (Cranial Nerves) (2) Optic Nerve (CN II)
 sensory function: vision
TOPIC OUTLINE
1 Cranial Nerves
2 12 Pairs of Cranial Nerves
3 Autonomic Nervous System
4 Terms Associated with the ANS

(3) Oculomotor Nerve (CN III)

 Motor function
 moves eyelid & eyeball
 constricts pupil

CRANIAL NERVES
 part of the Peripheral Nervous System
 12 pairs of nerves whose cell bodies originate
from the brain
 numbered I to XII from superior to inferior
 innervate specific areas of the body & function (4) Trochlear Nerve (CN IV)
could be sensory, motor or both  Motor function
 ipsilateral (right to right/left to left)  moves eyeball

12 PAIRS OF CRANIAL NERVES

(5) Trigeminal Nerve (CN V)

 Sensory function
 corneal reflex
 facial recognition
 Motor function
 mastication

CRANIAL NERVES (CN I – CN XII)

(1) Olfactory Nerve (CN I)
 sensory function: smell

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 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
CRANIAL NERVES (CN I – CN XII) cont. (9) Glossopharyngeal Nerve (CN IX)
(6) Abducens Nerve (CN VI)  sensory function:
 Motor function  taste (posterior 1/3 of tongue)
 moves eyeball  detects changes in BP & pH of blood
 motor function
 swallowing
 speaking

(10) Vagus Nerve (X)

 sensory function:
 detects
changes in BP
& pH of blood
 motor function
 swallowing
 speaking
 coughing
 decreases
heart rate
 peristalsis
(7) Facial Nerve (CN VII)  increases
 sensory function digestive secretions
 taste (anterior 2/3 of tongue) (11) Accessory Nerve (CN XI)
 motor function  motor function
 facial expression  moves head & shoulder (innervates
trapezius & sternocleidomastoid
muscles)

(8) Vestibulocochlear Nerve (CN VIII)

 sensory function (12) Hypoglossal Nerve (CN XII)
 hearing  motor function
 balance/equilibrium  moves tongue

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 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (ANS)
 part of the PNS
 consists of cranial & spinal nerves whose
motor & sensory fibers innervate smooth
& cardiac muscles & glands
 is different from the somatic nervous
system in many ways
SOMATIC VS AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
(3) Sympathetic Division
 also called “thoracolumbar division”
 one of the main branches of the
motor part of the ANS
 nerve impulses from this division
stimulate the organ to increase its
activity through the release of
norepinephrine to effectors

Property Somatic Autonomic

Effectors Skeletal Muscles Cardiac Muscle, Smooth
Muscles, glands
Type of mainly voluntary mainly involuntary
Control
Neural One motor neuron One motor neuron
Pathway extends from CNS extends from the CNS
and synapses and usually synapses
directly with a with another motor
skeletal muscle neuron in a ganglion; the
fiber second motor neuron
synapses with an
autonomic effector
Neurotransm Acetylcholine Acetylcholine or
itter norepinephrine
Action of Always excitatory May be excitatory or
Neurotransm (causing inhibitory (4) Parasympathetic Division
itter on contraction of  also called “craniosacral division”
effector skeletal muscle)  one of the main branches of the
motor part of the ANS
 nerve impulses from this division
decrease activity of effectors
through the release of acetylcholine

Terms Associated with the ANS

(1) Preganglionic neuron
 the first neuron in the autonomic
motor pathway
 has its cell body in the CNS, either in
the lateral gray horn of the spinal
cord or in a nucleus of the
brainstem
 its axon extends from the CNS via
cranial or a spinal nerve to an
autonomic ganglion, where it
synapses with the second neuron
(2) Postganglionic neuron
 the second neuron in the autonomic
motor pathway
 lies entirely in the peripheral
nervous system
 its cell body is located in an
autonomic ganglion, and its axon
extends from the ganglion to the
effector

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ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
FUNCTIONS OF THE ANS List of Concept Check
 Sympathetic Effects (1) What do you call the molecules which serve
“fight or flight activities” as “chemical messages” from one neuron to
 dilate pupils another neuron or to an effector?
 dilate bronchi/airways  Neurotransmitter
 increase HR, heart contraction & BP (2) Which types of neurotransmitters promote or
constrict blood vessels to nonessential speed up nerve impulses at synapses?
organs: kidneys, GI tract  Excitatory
 dilate blood vessels to muscles, cardiac (3) Which types of neurotransmitters inhibit or
muscle, liver & adipose slow down nerve impulses at synapses?
 mobilize nutrients: glucose & fats  Inhibitory
(4) What are the two functional divisions of the
 Parasympathetic Effects PNS?
usually opposite w/ sympathetic effects  Somatic and Autonomic
“rest & digest activities” (SLUDDD) (5) Which functional division innervates skeletal
 Salivation muscles?
 Lacrimation  Somatic Nervous System
 Urination (6) Which gray horn of the spinal cord do
 Digestion autonomic motor neurons originate?
 Defecation  Lateral
“fight or flight activities” (7) What do you call a cluster of cell bodies in
 Decreased HR the PNS?
 airway diameter (constrict)  Ganglion
 pupil diameter (constrict)

CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS

Nicky has recently had a viral infection
and now she cannot move the muscles on the
right side of her face. In addition, she is
experiencing a loss of taste and a dry mouth,
and she cannot close her right eye.
 What cranial nerve has been affected by the
viral infection?
 Right Branch of Facial Nerve (CN VII)
 Bell’s Palsy
Frita, in her early 70s, had problems
chewing. When she was asked to stick out her
tongue, it deviated to the left, and its left half
was quite atrophied.
 What cranial nerve was injured?
 Left Hypoglossal Nerve (CN XII)
 Third Branch of Trigeminal Nerve (CN V)
Your neighbor fell down his roof. As a
student nurse, you rushed and offered help. You
were quite relieved to know that he did not lose
consciousness, his vital signs normal and
sensations intact in all his extremities. However,
he could not move both of his arms and legs;
although he could effortlessly move his facial,
head, & neck muscles and tongue.
 Based on your knowledge of the nervous
system so far, which structures of the nervous
system were affected?
 Brachial Plexus down to the Lumbar
Plexus
 Anterior root of the Spinal Nerve is
involve or the anterior horn of the spinal
cord

joshua_seaa | bsn 1-b 4