Learning objectives
Completing this study unit will allow you to:
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
Afferent modalities
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.
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Take a look at the atlas galleries below to explore cranial nerve nuclei from anterior and lateral perspectives.
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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