Chapter contents
Branchial motor
Visceral motor
Special sensory
General sensory
Peripheral lesions| Cranial Nerve VII - Facial Nerve | Page 3 of 28 |
Origin and Central Course
The branchial motor component originates from the motor nucleus of CN VII in the caudal pons.
Fibers leaving the motor nucleus of CN VII initially travel medially and dorsally to loop around the ipsilateral abducens nucleus (CN VI) producing a slight bulge in the floor of the fourth ventricle - the facial colliculus.
Fibers then course so as to exit the ventrolateral aspect of the brainstem at the caudal border of the pons in conjunction with the nervus intermedius components of CN VII.
