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Cranial nerve nuclei

Learning objectives

Completing this study unit will allow you to: 

  1. Name and group the cranial nerve nuclei of the brainstem.
  2. Describe the location of each cranial nerve nuclei.
  3. Identify cranial nerves associated with each cranial nerve nucleus. 
  4. Learn the main functions of each cranial nerve nuclei.

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The cranial nerve nuclei are collections of neuronal cell bodies dispersed throughout the brainstem. They function to either receive afferent inputs from cranial nerve fibers or give off efferent outputs which travel along the cranial nerves to target structures. 

The cranial nerve nuclei can be divided into seven different modalities based on the information they carry to and from their target tissues, impulse type and specificity or exclusivity to cranial nerves: 

Efferent modalities 

  • General somatic efferent (GSE): skeletal muscles of the head and neck (e.g. extraocular muscles and muscles of the tongue).
  • General visceral efferent (GVE): smooth muscles of gut and autonomic motor (e.g. smooth muscles of the salivary glands and iris sphincter muscle and the ciliary muscle.
  • Special visceral efferent (SVE): muscles derived from pharyngeal arches, specific to cranial nerves.

Afferent modalities

  • General somatic afferent (GSA): general sensation from the skin.
  • General visceral afferent (GVA): general sensation from viscera.
  • Special somatic afferent (SSA): senses derived from ectoderm, specific to cranial nerves (e.g. sight, sound, balance).
  • Special visceral afferent (SVA): senses derived from endoderm, specific to cranial nerves (e.g. taste, smell).

It is important to note that while cranial nerves can carry a mixture of both motor and sensory fibers, cranial nerve nuclei can only be motor or sensory. Therefore, cranial nerves may be associated with more than one nucleus and some cranial nerves may even share the same nucleus. 

The olfactory nerve (CN I) and the optic nerve (CN II) arise outside the brainstem and therefore, are the only cranial nerves which are not associated with cranial nerve nuclei. 

Find out more about the afferent and efferent cranial nerve nuclei by watching the video below.

Take a quiz

Well, that was a lot of information! Test your knowledge on the cranial nerve nuclei with the quiz below.

If you want to get a broader overview and choose the topics you’ll get quizzed on, try out this fully customizable quiz.

Browse atlas

Take a look at the atlas galleries below to explore cranial nerve nuclei from anterior and lateral perspectives.

Summary

Key points about the cranial nerve nuclei
Oculomotor nerve (CN III) Nucleus of oculomotor nerve (GSE), accessory nucleus of oculomotor nerve (GVE)
Trochlear nerve (CN IV) Nucleus of trochlear nerve (GSE)
Trigeminal nerve (CN V) Motor nucleus of trigeminal nerve (SVE), principal nucleus of trigeminal nerve (GSA), spinal nucleus of trigeminal nerve (GSA), mesencephalic nucleus of trigeminal nerve (GSA)
Abducens nerve (CN VI) Nucleus of abducens nerve (GSE)
Facial nerve (CN VII) Nucleus of facial nerve (SVE), superior salivatory nucleus (GVE), nucleus of solitary tract (GVA, SVA), spinal nucleus of trigeminal nerve (GSA)
Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII) Cochlear nuclei (SSA), vestibular nuclei (SSA)
Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) Nucleus ambiguus (SVE), inferior salivatory nucleus (GVE), nucleus of solitary tract (GVA, SVA), spinal nucleus of trigeminal nerve (GSA)
Vagus nerve (CN X) Posterior nucleus of vagus nerve (GVE), nucleus ambiguus (SVE), nucleus of solitary tract (GVA, SVA), spinal nucleus of trigeminal nerve (GSA)
Accessory nerve (CN XI) Nucleus ambiguus (SVE)
Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) Nucleus of hypoglossal nerve (GSE)

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