Biomaterial Database

The glossopharyngeal, vagus and spinal accessory nerves. 2010

Cheng Kang Ong, and Vincent Fook Hin Chong

Department of Diagnostic Imaging, National University Health System, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. ongck22@hotmail.com

The glossopharyngeal, vagus and spinal accessory nerves are closely related anatomically, and to a certain extent, functionally. We present an overview of their anatomy, highlighting the important clinical and imaging implications. The main pathologic lesions arising from these nerves are also discussed and the imaging features reviewed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011859	Radiography	Examination of any part of the body for diagnostic purposes by means of X-RAYS or GAMMA RAYS, recording the image on a sensitized surface (such as photographic film).	Radiology, Diagnostic X-Ray,Roentgenography,X-Ray, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X-Ray,Diagnostic X-Ray Radiology,X-Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X Ray,Diagnostic X Ray Radiology,Diagnostic X-Rays,Radiology, Diagnostic X Ray,X Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,X Ray, Diagnostic,X-Rays, Diagnostic
D003952	Diagnostic Imaging	Any visual display of structural or functional patterns of organs or tissues for diagnostic evaluation. It includes measuring physiologic and metabolic responses to physical and chemical stimuli, as well as ultramicroscopy.	Imaging, Diagnostic,Imaging, Medical,Medical Imaging
D005930	Glossopharyngeal Nerve	The 9th cranial nerve. The glossopharyngeal nerve is a mixed motor and sensory nerve; it conveys somatic and autonomic efferents as well as general, special, and visceral afferents. Among the connections are motor fibers to the stylopharyngeus muscle, parasympathetic fibers to the parotid glands, general and taste afferents from the posterior third of the tongue, the nasopharynx, and the palate, and afferents from baroreceptors and CHEMORECEPTOR CELLS of the carotid sinus.	Cranial Nerve IX,Ninth Cranial Nerve,Cranial Nerve IXs,Cranial Nerve, Ninth,Cranial Nerves, Ninth,Glossopharyngeal Nerves,Nerve, Glossopharyngeal,Nerve, Ninth Cranial,Nerves, Glossopharyngeal,Nerves, Ninth Cranial,Ninth Cranial Nerves
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000055	Accessory Nerve	The 11th cranial nerve which originates from NEURONS in the MEDULLA and in the CERVICAL SPINAL CORD. It has a cranial root, which joins the VAGUS NERVE (10th cranial) and sends motor fibers to the muscles of the LARYNX, and a spinal root, which sends motor fibers to the TRAPEZIUS and the sternocleidomastoid muscles.	Cranial Nerve XI,Eleventh Cranial Nerve,Spinal Accessory Nerve,Nerve XI,Nervus Accessorius,Accessorius, Nervus,Accessory Nerve, Spinal,Accessory Nerves,Accessory Nerves, Spinal,Cranial Nerve, Eleventh,Cranial Nerves, Eleventh,Eleventh Cranial Nerves,Nerve XIs,Nerve, Accessory,Nerve, Eleventh Cranial,Nerve, Spinal Accessory,Nerves, Accessory,Nerves, Eleventh Cranial,Nerves, Spinal Accessory,Spinal Accessory Nerves
D014630	Vagus Nerve	The 10th cranial nerve. The vagus is a mixed nerve which contains somatic afferents (from skin in back of the ear and the external auditory meatus), visceral afferents (from the pharynx, larynx, thorax, and abdomen), parasympathetic efferents (to the thorax and abdomen), and efferents to striated muscle (of the larynx and pharynx).	Cranial Nerve X,Pneumogastric Nerve,Tenth Cranial Nerve,Nerve X,Nervus Vagus,Cranial Nerve, Tenth,Cranial Nerves, Tenth,Nerve X, Cranial,Nerve Xs,Nerve, Pneumogastric,Nerve, Tenth Cranial,Nerve, Vagus,Nerves, Pneumogastric,Nerves, Tenth Cranial,Nerves, Vagus,Pneumogastric Nerves,Tenth Cranial Nerves,Vagus Nerves,Vagus, Nervus
D020421	Vagus Nerve Diseases	Diseases of the tenth cranial nerve, including brain stem lesions involving its nuclei (solitary, ambiguus, and dorsal motor), nerve fascicles, and intracranial and extracranial course. Clinical manifestations may include dysphagia, vocal cord weakness, and alterations of parasympathetic tone in the thorax and abdomen.	Cranial Nerve X Diseases,Pneumogastric Nerve Disorders,Sensory Disorder, Vagus Nerve,Tenth Cranial Nerve Diseases,Motor Disorder, Vagus Nerve,Vagus Nerve Disorders,Vagus Nerve Motor Disorder,Vagus Nerve Sensory Disorder,Vagus Neuropathy,Disorder, Pneumogastric Nerve,Disorders, Pneumogastric Nerve,Neuropathies, Vagus,Neuropathy, Vagus,Pneumogastric Nerve Disorder,Vagus Nerve Disease,Vagus Nerve Disorder,Vagus Neuropathies
D020435	Glossopharyngeal Nerve Diseases	Diseases of the ninth cranial (glossopharyngeal) nerve or its nuclei in the medulla. The nerve may be injured by diseases affecting the lower brain stem, floor of the posterior fossa, jugular foramen, or the nerve's extracranial course. Clinical manifestations include loss of sensation from the pharynx, decreased salivation, and syncope. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia refers to a condition that features recurrent unilateral sharp pain in the tongue, angle of the jaw, external auditory meatus and throat that may be associated with SYNCOPE. Episodes may be triggered by cough, sneeze, swallowing, or pressure on the tragus of the ear. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1390)	Cranial Nerve IX Diseases,Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia,Ninth Cranial Nerve Diseases,Cranial Nerve IX Disorders,Glossopharyngeal Motor Neuropathy,Glossopharyngeal Nerve Sensory Neuropathy,Glossopharyngeal Nerve Taste Disorder,Sensory Neuropathy, Glossopharyngeal Nerve,Taste Disorder, Glossopharyngeal Nerve,Glossopharyngeal Motor Neuropathies,Glossopharyngeal Nerve Disease,Glossopharyngeal Neuralgias,Motor Neuropathies, Glossopharyngeal,Motor Neuropathy, Glossopharyngeal,Neuralgia, Glossopharyngeal,Neuralgias, Glossopharyngeal
D020436	Accessory Nerve Diseases	Diseases of the eleventh cranial (spinal accessory) nerve. This nerve originates from motor neurons in the lower medulla (accessory portion of nerve) and upper spinal cord (spinal portion of nerve). The two components of the nerve join and exit the skull via the jugular foramen, innervating the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles, which become weak or paralyzed if the nerve is injured. The nerve is commonly involved in MOTOR NEURON DISEASE, and may be injured by trauma to the posterior triangle of the neck.	Cranial Nerve XI Diseases,Eleventh Cranial Nerve Disease,Spinal Accessory Nerve Diseases,Cranial Nerve Eleven Diseases,Cranial Nerve Eleven Disorders,Accessory Nerve Disease