Match the selected cranial nerves with their function.
Conducts impulses for equilibrium and hearing
Vision
Innervates visceral smooth muscle and cardiac muscle
Innervates pharynx & secretion of parotid salivary gland
Innervates muscles of mastication
Innervates intrinsic and extrinsic tongue muscles
· Innervates the facial muscles
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
Here’s the correct matching of the selected cranial nerves to their functions:
- Conducts impulses for equilibrium and hearing – Vestibulocochlear nerve (Cranial Nerve VIII)
- Vision – Optic nerve (Cranial Nerve II)
- Innervates visceral smooth muscle and cardiac muscle – Vagus nerve (Cranial Nerve X)
- Innervates pharynx & secretion of parotid salivary gland – Glossopharyngeal nerve (Cranial Nerve IX)
- Innervates muscles of mastication – Trigeminal nerve (Cranial Nerve V)
- Innervates intrinsic and extrinsic tongue muscles – Hypoglossal nerve (Cranial Nerve XII)
- Innervates the facial muscles – Facial nerve (Cranial Nerve VII)
Explanation
1. Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII) is responsible for hearing and balance. It has two parts: the cochlear nerve, which transmits sound information from the cochlea of the inner ear to the brain, and the vestibular nerve, which conveys information related to balance from the semicircular canals of the inner ear.
2. Optic nerve (II) carries visual information from the retina of the eye to the brain. This nerve is crucial for vision, as it transmits the images captured by the eye to the visual cortex where they are processed.
3. Vagus nerve (X) is a part of the autonomic nervous system controlling the heart, lungs, and digestive tract. It sends parasympathetic fibers to many organs and also receives sensory information from them, playing a crucial role in involuntary functions such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and digestive processes.
4. Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) has multiple functions including taste from the posterior one-third of the tongue, swallowing, and saliva production from the parotid gland. It also plays a role in the reflex regulation of blood pressure.
5. Trigeminal nerve (V) is the principal sensory nerve of the face and also motor to the muscles of mastication. It has three branches: ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular, which together provide sensory input from the face and motor fibers for chewing.
6. Hypoglossal nerve (XII) controls tongue movements necessary for speech and swallowing. It innervates both intrinsic muscles, which change the shape of the tongue, and extrinsic muscles, which alter its position.
7. Facial nerve (VII) controls the muscles of facial expression, and functions in the conveyance of taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and lacrimal and salivary glands’ functioning.
Let’s create an image illustrating these cranial nerves and their functions.
Here is the illustration showing the human brain with the cranial nerves labeled and connected to descriptions of their functions. Each nerve is depicted with distinct colors and clear labels, making it easy to understand their specific roles.
