Cranial Nerves

The human body is a unique and fascinating entity. There is not much notice taken of the features the human body is capable of. The brain is necessary to perform day-to-day actions, such as the ability to speak, and see amongst us. This brain is made up of simple mater (Pia mater, Arachnoid mater, Dura mater) and the cranial surface to protect the brain. We live our daily lives without acknowledging the importance of this organ, the brain, unless you’re a medical student of course! Despite that people go on with their daily activities using the human natural senses. Looking at the world through the eyes, watching for any danger around us; ears for hearing the sounds detecting something that may call for danger, the
Oculomotor nerve is the third cranial nerve. CN III serves a motor function. The oculomotor nerve originates from motor neurons in the oculomotor and visceral motor nuclei in the brainstem. CN III is the chief nerve to the ocular and extra-ocular muscles. The nerve cell bodies of the oculomotor nerve arise from axons that exit the ventral surface of the brainstem. The nerve than passes through the two layers of the dura mater including the later wall of the cavernous sinus and then enters the superior orbital fissure to innervate the orbit. The somatomotor component to the nerve dives into a superior and inferior division. The superior division supplies the levator palpebrae superioris and superior rectus muscles. The inferior division supplies the medial rectus inferior rectus and inferior oblique muscles. The visceromotor which is also the parasympathetic component of the oculomotor nerve travels along with the inferior division that sends branches which enter the ciliary ganglion where a synapse is formed with the with the ganglion cells. The ganglion cells send nerve fibers into the back of the eye where they travel to ultimately innervate the ciliary muscle and the constrictor pupillae muscle. Oculomotor nerve being the chief nerve to innervate the ocular and extra-ocular muscle any dysfunction to this nerve can lead to ocularmotor nerve palsy, including isolated and