Cranial Nerve IX - Glossopharyngeal
Anatomy
Below is an image showing the anatomy of Cranial Nerve IX in relation to the other nerves.
The image is taken and modified from the Wiki Commons under the Creative Commons License.
Type
Mixed. Consists of a both a sensory portion and a motor portion.
Origins & Insertions
|
Nerve |
Origin |
Insertion |
|
Sensory Portion |
Taste Buds in posterior third of the tongue, proprioceptors in swallowing muscles. Stretch- & Chemo- receptors in the carotid sinus and body respectively. |
Medulla |
|
Motor Portion |
Medulla |
Stylopharyngeus muscle that elevates the larynx during swallowing. The parotid gland. |
Foramen
The Jugular Foramen (as shown below)
Image taken and modified from Flickr under the Creative Commons License
Function
The Sensory Branch functions to;
- convey sensations of taste, touch, pain, heat from the posterior third of the tongue to the medulla.
- convey impulses for the proprioception in swallowing muscles.
- monitor blood pressure via the strech receptors in the carotid sinus.
- monitor O2 and CO2 levels in the blood for regulation of breating.
The Motor Branch functions to;
- Elevate the pharynx during swallowing and speech through innervating the stylopharyngeus.
- Stimulate the secretion of saliva through innervation of the parotid salivary gland.