What is Glossopharyngeal

The glossopharyngeal nerve is the ninth (IX) cranial nerve, which arises from the brainstem inside the skull. It supplies sensation to the back of the throat and tongue and portions of the ear (Fig.

What is the function of Glossopharyngeal?

The glossopharyngeal nerve, which is also called the ninth cranial nerve, has both sensory (sensation) functions and motor (movement) functions in the body, as well as specialized sensory function and parasympathetic function.

What causes Glossopharyngeal?

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is generally caused by a small blood vessel that presses on the nerves as they exit the brainstem. This condition is caused by irritation of the ninth cranial nerve by a blood vessel, and is most commonly seen in people over age 40.

What does Glossopharyngeal mean?

adjective. of or relating to the tongue and pharynx.

How serious is Glossopharyngeal neuralgia?

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a rare condition in which there are repeated episodes of severe pain in the tongue, throat, ear, and tonsils. This can last from a few seconds to a few minutes.

What does CN 9 innervate?

This nucleus contains neurons that provide motor innervation to several muscles of the soft palate, the pharynx, the larynx and the upper part of the esophagus. … The axons that belong to the glossopharyngeal nerve provide motor innervation to the stylopharyngeus muscle and the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle.

Is glossopharyngeal nerve ipsilateral?

Glossopharyngeal (CN9): ipsilateral loss of pharyngeal sensation.

What is Vestibulocochlear?

The vestibulocochlear is made up of two nerves—the cochlear nerve, which is responsible for hearing, and the vestibular nerve, which is responsible for balance. As one of the 12 cranial nerves, it runs between the pons (the middle of the brainstem) and the medulla oblongata (the lower part of the brainstem).

What is nerve accessory?

The accessory nerve is a cranial nerve that supplies the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles. It is considered as the eleventh of twelve pairs of cranial nerves, or simply cranial nerve XI, as part of it was formerly believed to originate in the brain.

What is the meaning of accessory nerve?

Definition of accessory nerve : either of a pair of motor nerves that are the 11th cranial nerves of higher vertebrates, arise from the medulla oblongata and the upper part of the spinal cord, and supply chiefly the pharynx and muscles of the upper chest, back, and shoulders.

Article first time published on

Is Gpn life threatening?

Most common cause is vascular compression of glossopharyngeal nerve. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is life-threatening condition because it is associated with cardiac arrest, hypotension, syncope and weight loss. Treatment with carbamazepine is affected in patients with cardiovascular manifestations.

What type of doctor treats glossopharyngeal neuralgia?

If the pain requires further evaluation, a neurologist or a neurosurgeon may be recommended. The diagnosis of neuralgia is made after carefully assessing the patient’s symptoms. If glossopharyngeal neuralgia is suspected, the doctor will attempt to trigger an episode by touching the back of the throat with a swab.

What affects the glossopharyngeal nerve?

Causes of Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia Often, the cause of glossopharyngeal neuralgia is unknown. An abnormally positioned artery compresses the glossopharyngeal nerve near where the nerve exits the brain stem. The long, pointed bone at the base of the skull (styloid process) is abnormally long and compresses the nerve.

Can Gpn be cured?

Over time, microvascular decompression (MVD), a surgical procedure, has become an effective treatment for persistent GPN. A majority of patients that undergo MVD achieve long-term pain relief. Microvascular decompression (MVD) is the most common surgical procedure for the treatment of glossopharyngeal neuralgia.

What happens if the Glossopharyngeal nerve is damaged?

Glossopharyngeal nerve lesions produce difficulty swallowing; impairment of taste over the posterior one-third of the tongue and palate; impaired sensation over the posterior one-third of the tongue, palate, and pharynx; an absent gag reflex; and dysfunction of the parotid gland.

Are you born with glossopharyngeal neuralgia?

In most cases, glossopharyngeal neuralgia is caused by irritation of the glossopharyngeal nerve and is not inherited (passed down from parent to child). In most cases, a person with glossopharyngeal neuralgia is the only person with the disorder in the family.

Where is the otic ganglion?

The otic ganglion is a small peripheral parasympathetic ganglion residing immediately below the foramen ovale. It is related topographically to the mandibular nerve but is functionally related to the glossopharyngeal nerve.

What cranial nerve is Pons?

There is one cranial nerve associated with the pons proper, the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V). Three other cranial nerves are located at the pontomedullary junction: the abducens nerve (cranial nerve VI), the facial nerve(cranial nerve VII), and the vestibulocochlear nerve (cranial nerve VIII).

What is the midbrain?

The midbrain is the topmost part of the brainstem, the connection central between the brain and the spinal cord. There are three main parts of the midbrain – the colliculi, the tegmentum, and the cerebral peduncles.

What is vagus nerve?

The vagus nerve carries an extensive range of signals from digestive system and organs to the brain and vice versa. It is the tenth cranial nerve, extending from its origin in the brainstem through the neck and the thorax down to the abdomen.

Is vagus sensory or motor?

The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve. It contains motor and sensory fibers and, because it passes through the neck and thorax to the abdomen, has the widest distribution in the body.

What are the 12 cranial nerve?

  • I. Olfactory nerve.
  • II. Optic nerve.
  • III. Oculomotor nerve.
  • IV. Trochlear nerve.
  • V. Trigeminal nerve.
  • VI. Abducens nerve.
  • VII. Facial nerve.
  • VIII. Vestibulocochlear nerve.

What is the posterior triangle of the neck?

Posterior triangle. The posterior triangle is a triangular area found posteriorly to the sternocleidomastoid muscle. It has three borders; anterior, posterior and inferior borders. The anterior border is the posterior margin of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

What is an axillary nerve?

The axillary nerve arises from the fifth and the sixth cervical nerves that is C5–6. The axillary nerve is a branch of the posterior cord. It is found anterior to the subscapularis, posterior to the brachial artery, and lateral to the radial nerve.

What is the hypoglossal canal?

The hypoglossal canal is located between the occipital condyle and jugular tubercle and runs obliquely forwards (posteromedial to anterolateral) allowing the hypoglossal nerve to exit the posterior cranial fossa.

How long does viral vertigo last?

It usually comes on suddenly and can cause other symptoms, such as unsteadiness, nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick). You won’t normally have any hearing problems. It usually lasts a few hours or days, but it may take three to six weeks to settle completely.

What is the name of CN V?

The trigeminal nerve is the fifth cranial nerve (CN V). Its primary function is to provide sensory and motor innervation to the face. The trigeminal nerve consists of three branches on either side that extend to different territories of the face.

Where is the cochlear?

While the cochlea is technically a bone it plays a vital role in the function of hearing rather than simply being another component of the skeletal system. It is located within the inner ear and is often described as hollow and snail- or spiral-shaped.

What nerve innervates the sternocleidomastoid?

The muscles innervated directly by the XI nerve are the trapezius and the sternocleidomastoid, in addition to the laryngeal musculature (in collaboration with the vagus nerve), such as the palatal, pharyngeal, laryngeal muscles.

How do you check Sternocleidomastoid?

Test the right sternocleidomastoid muscle by facing the patient and placing your right palm laterally on the patient’s left cheek. Ask the patient to turn the head to the left, resisting the pressure you are exerting in the opposite direction.

Where is the ocular nerve?

The optic nerve begins at the optic disk, a structure that is 1.5 mm (0.06 inch) in diameter and is located at the back of the eye. The optic disk forms from the convergence of ganglion cell output fibres (called axons) as they pass out of the eye.

You Might Also Like