Cranial nerve exits
The intercranial parts of cranial nerves are situated within the cranial cavity. The nerves pass through different openings of the skull (including foramina, fissures, canals) to exit the cranial base and then distribute mainly in regions of head and neck.
However, one of the cranial nerves, the vagus nerve (CN X) (from Latin, vagus means "wanderer") continues its course in the trunk innervating various thoracic and abdominal organs.
Now identify the stumps of cranial nerves exiting the cranial cavity through various openings!
- I - Olfactory nerve - cribriform plate
- II - Optic nerve - optic canal
- III - Oculomotor nerve - superior orbital fissure
- IV - Trochlear nerve - superior orbital fissure
- V - Trigeminal nerve which has three divisions:
- V1 - Ophthalmic nerve - superior orbital fissure
- V2 - Maxillary nerve - foramen rotundum
- V3 - Mandibular nerve - foramen ovale
- VI - Abducens nerve - superior orbital fissure
- VII - Facial nerve - internal acoustic meatus
- VIII - Vestibulocochlear nerve - internal acoustic meatus
- IX - Glossopharyngeal nerve - jugular foramen
- X - Vagus nerve - jugular foramen
- XI - Accessory nerve - jugular foramen
- XII - Hypoglossal nerve - hypoglossal canal