Chapter 3 - The cranial nerve, the spinal nerve

Abstract

The cranial nerves consists of 12 pairs of nerves, most of which emerge from the brainstem. In terms of function, the cranial nerve contains somatic sensory nerve, somatic motor nerve, visceral sensory nerve, and visceral motor nerve. Correspondingly, each cranial nerve contains the nucleus (or nuclei) in the central nervous system, and may contain the ganglion (or ganglia) in the peripheral nervous system. The functions and locations of the nuclei and ganglia are discussed in detail. Readers can be familiarized with the nuclei with assistance from the stained slices of the brainstem. In succession, the spinal nerves (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral nerves) from the spinal cord are studied, with respect to the components of the spinal nerves (somatic sensory nerve and somatic motor nerve). For full understanding of the cranial and spinal nerves, regional anatomy knowledge is necessary.