Cranial nerves and their pathways — Flashcards

Flashcard 1: The _____ muscle dampens loud noises (e.g., from chewing) by pulling the handle of the malleus medially to tense the tympanic membrane.

Answer: tensor tympani

Flashcard 2: What nerve(s) are found on the lateral walls of the cavernous sinus?_____

Answer: CN III, IV, V1, V2

Flashcard 3: Which branch of the trigeminal nerve provides general sensation to the palate, nasal cavity, maxillary face, and maxillary teeth? _____

Answer: Maxillary (V2)

Flashcard 4: Cavernous sinus syndrome may arise due to a carotid-cavernous _____

Answer: fistula

Flashcard 5: The motor innervation to most muscles of the tongue is via CN _____

Answer: XII

Flashcard 6: CN IX (Cranial Nerve 9) name?

Answer: Glossopharyngeal nerve

Extra: Functions of Cranial Nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal): 1. Motor: Stylopharyngeus muscle. 2. Sensory: Posterior 1/3 of tongue, tonsils, pharynx, middle ear, carotid body/sinus. 3. Taste: Posterior 1/3 of tongue. 4. Parasympathetic: Parotid gland (via otic ganglion). 5. Reflexes: Afferent limb of the gag reflex.

Flashcard 7: parafollicular cells (C-cells) of thyroid

Answer: neural crest

Flashcard 8: Embryological origin of the bones of the skull:

Answer: Neural crest cells and Paraxial mesoderm

Extra: The bones of the skull have dual embryological origins: 1. **Neural Crest Cells:** Form the bones of the face (viscerocranium) and parts of the neurocranium (e.g., frontal bone, sphenoid). 2. **Paraxial Mesoderm:** Forms the rest of the neurocranium (e.g., parietal bones, occipital bone).

Flashcard 9: Into what vein do the dural venous sinuses empty?

Answer: internal jugular vein

Flashcard 10: Olfactory deficits are often caused by head injuries that fracture the _____ of the ethmoid bone

Answer: cribriform plate

Extra:  Watch associated Bootcamp video [https://app.bootcamp.com/med-school/gross-anatomy/videos/external-examination-of-the-brain?index=12] https://onlinemeded.org/spa/neurology?ref=anki