MRI ANATOMY OF THE CRANIAL NERVES

Alexandra Borges

Radiology Dpt.

Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa

SENR 2014

CRANIAL NERVES

• Olfactory: I

• Optic: II

• Oculomotor nerves: III, IV, VI

• Trigeminal nerve: (V1, V2, V3)

• Facial nerve (VII)

• Vestibulochoclear (VIII)

• Glossopharyngeal (IX)

• Vagus (X)

• Spinal accessory (XI)

• Hypoglossal nerve (XII)

CRANIAL NERVES: Anatomy

• Segments:

– Brainstem/ fascicular

– Cisternal

(cavernous sinus CNs III, IV, VI)

– Skull base

– Exocranial

Borges A, Casselman J. "Imaging the cranial nerves Part I”. Eur Radiol 17(8):2112-2125, 2007

3DFT CISS

MR FSE T2W 3DFT-CISS SE T1W pre- and post gad

3DFT-MPRAGE

TR 4000 12.25 684 11.6

TE 99 5.9 20 4.9

FA 180º 70º 90º 12º

Acq. time 3 7.14 5.31 10.51

Thick 4 0.7 2 1

Matrix 242x512 192x256 160x256 192x256

FOV 300 95 230 240

Pixel size 0.62x0.59 0.49x0.37 0.90x0.90 0.94x0.94

CNs MR IMAGING TECHNIQUE

OLFACTORY NERVE

OLFACTORY NERVE

From Ric Harnsberger Imaging anatomy

OPTIC NERVE

From Ric Harnsberger Imaging anatomy

SE T1W

FSE T2W

OPTIC NERVE SE T1W

STIR

OPTIC NERVE

OPTIC NERVE CE SE T1W

CN III (OCULOMOTOR NERVE) From Ric Harnsberger Imaging anatomy

CN III

CN III

CN III:

Inferior rectus

Inferior oblique Medial rectus

Levator palpebrae Superior rectus

Superior division

Inferior division

From Ric Harnsberger Imaging anatomy

CN IV (TROCHLEAR NERVE)

Borges A, Casselman J. "Imaging the cranial nerves Part I” EJR, 2007

From Ric Harnsberger Imaging anatomy

CN IV

Borges A, Casselman J. "Imaging the cranial nerves Part I”

CN IV

Superior oblique

Superior oblique

FSE T2W CE FATSAT T1W

CN VIn

CN VI (ABDUCENS NERVE)

CN VI

CN VI

TRIGEMINAL NERVE (CN V)

The largest of the cranial nerves

Provides:

Sensory input from the face

Motor innervation to the muscles of mastication

BRAINSTEM SEGMENT

Mn

CSn

Mes.n

STn

Sag SE T1W

Axial FSE T2W

CISTERNAL SEGMENT/MECKEL’S CAVE

Axial CISS

Axial CISS Cor SE T1W

Sag SE T1W

MECKEL’S CAVE

Post Gad Sag SE T1W

Axial CISS Axial CISS

FSE T2W

MOTOR ROOT CAVERNOUS SEGMENT

Cor CISS

Post Gad SENSE

Borges A, Casselman J. "Imaging the cranial nerves Part I”

V1 (Ophthalmic division)

Post Gad SENSE

Axial CT

Lacrimal Frontal Nasocilliary

V2 (Maxillary division)

Courtesy Dr. Jan Casselman

Cor CT

Post Gad SENSE

Cor FSE T2W

SENSE T1W

V3 (Mandibular division)

V3 MOTOR

V3 SENSORY

Post Gad Cor SENSE

Axial CT

Post Gad Sag FAT SAT SE T1W

V3

Masticator branch

Mylohyoid branch

Thank you very much for your attention!