Learning objectives
The main objective of this poster is to be familiar with the Radiological Anatomy of the cranial nerves with MR and CT images.
The requests for many radiological tests are to rule out cranial nerve pathology and the exhaustive knowledge of the Anatomy,
can be very helpful.
Background
There are twelve cranial nerves numbered in order as they emerge from cranial to caudal in the brain.
These are: olfactory (I),
optic (II),
oculomotor (III),
trochlear (IV),
trigeminal (V),
abducens (VI),
facial (VII),
vestibulocochlear(VIII),
glosopharyngeal (IX),
vagus (X),
accesory (XI) and hypoglossal(XII) nerves.
Imaging findings OR Procedure details
I CRANIAL NERVE = OLFACTORY NERVE
Olfactory nerve is not a true nerve but an extension of the brain and provides the sense of smell.
It is formed by neurosensory cells (neurons) placed in the epithelium of the nasal vault,
whose axons,
fila olfactoria,
traverse the cribiform plate ,the so called transethmoidal segment.
This segment is followed by an intracranial one in the olfactory sulcus,
between the gyrus rectus and the orbital gyrus; also it can be subdivided into olfactory bulb,
tract and cortex (fig...
Conclusion
The cranial nerves Anatomy is complex and its knowledge can help to identify the pathology.
References
Sujay Sheth,
Barton F.
Branstetter IV,
Edward J.
Escott.
Appearance of normal cranial nerves on Steady-State Free Precession MR Images.
RadioGraphics 2009; 29:1045–1055
Rouviere et cols.
Anatomía humana.
Masson ,
novena edición 1996
Netter.
Atlas de anatomía humana.
Masson,
segunda edición 2001
