CN IX: Glossopharyngeal | Cranial Nerves - MedSchool
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Cranial Nerves
The Patient
I - Smell
II - Vision
II & III - Pupils
III, IV & VI - Eye Movement
V - Facial Sensation & Jaw Muscles
V & VII - Glabellar & Corneal Reflexes
VII - Facial Movement
VIII - Hearing
IX & X - Throat
XI - Neck & Shoulders
XII - Tongue
 

CN IX: Glossopharyngeal

 
 
On this page:Glossopharyngeal Nerve PalsyMotor PathwayParasympathetic PathwayVisceral Sensory PathwayGeneral Sensory PathwaySpecial Sensory Pathway

Overview

    • Roles

    • Special sensory (taste) - posterior ⅓ of tongue
    • Visceral sensory - carotid sinus baroreceptors, carotid body chemoreceptors
    • Somatic sensory - external ear, internal tympanic membrane, upper pharynx, posterior ⅓ of tongue
    • Somatic motor - stylopharyngeus
    • Visceral motor (parasympathetic) - parotid gland

Glossopharyngeal Nerve Palsy

    • Abnormalities

    • Loss of pharyngeal sensation / gag reflex
    • Loss of taste of posterior ⅓ of tongue
    • Xerostomia (dry mouth)

    • Causes fo Glossopharyngeal Nerve Palsy

    • Tumour
    • Infarction
    • Base of skull fractureInvolving the jugular foramen
    • Diptheria

Motor Pathway

  • Cortical Centre
    Primary motor cortex (precentral gyrus)
     
     
    Nucleus Ambiguus
    Medulla
     
    Foramen
    Jugular foramen
     
    Ganglia
    Superior (jugular) and
    inferior (petrous) ganglia
     
    Division
    Stylopharyngeal branch
     
     
    Muscles
    Stylopharyngeus

Parasympathetic Pathway

  • Hypothalamus
     
     
    Inferior Salivatory Nucleus
    Medulla
     
    Foramen
    Jugular foramen
     
    Superior (jugular) and
    inferior (petrous) ganglia
     
    Tympanic Nerve
     
    Tympanic Plexus
     
    Lesser petrosal nerve
     
    Otic ganglion
     
     
    Parotid Gland

Visceral Sensory Pathway

  • Cardiovascular & Respiratory Centres
    Reticular formation and hypothalamus
     
     
    Solitary Nucleus
    Medulla
     
     
    Foramen
    Jugular foramen
     
    Ganglia
    Superior (jugular) and
    inferior (petrous) ganglia
     
    Nerve to sinus
     
     
    Receptors
    Carotid sinus baroreceptors, carotid body chemoreceptors

General Sensory Pathway

  • Cortical Centre
    Primary sensory cortex (postcentral gyrus)
     
     
    Sensory Nucleus
    Medulla
     
     
    Foramen
    Jugular foramen
     
    Ganglia
    Superior (jugular) and
    inferior (petrous) ganglia
     
    Pharyngeal branch
     
     
    Receptors
    External ear, internal tympanic membrane, upper pharynx, posterior ⅓ of tongue

Special Sensory Pathway

  • Gustatory Cortex
    Insula
     
     
    Thalamus
     
     
    Sensory Nucleus
    Medulla
     
     
    Foramen
    Jugular foramen
     
    Ganglia
    Superior (jugular) and
    inferior (petrous) ganglia
     
    Lingual branch
     
     
    Taste Receptors
    Posterior ⅓ of tongue
Last updated on January 6th, 2020
 
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