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The cranial nerves of the colubrid snakes Elaphe and Thamnophis
Author(s) -
Auen Edward L.,
Langebartel David A.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1051540203
Subject(s) - anatomy , cranial nerves , biology , glossopharyngeal nerve , oculomotor nerve , trunk , accessory nerve , ganglion , trochlear nerve , ciliary ganglion , vagus nerve , trigeminal nerve , medicine , neuroscience , ecology , alternative medicine , pathology , stimulation , palsy
The cranial nerves of adult Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata and late embryonic Thamnophis ordinoides , were studied, respectively, by dissection and by microscopic examination of serial sections. There are 11 cranial nerves in these snakes; the spinal accessory (XI) cannot be identified. In general, the nerves are similar to those of lizards. Certain nerves usually combine into a trunk: the oculomotor (III), trochlear (IV), ophthalmic division (V 1 ) and abducens (VI), form the ocular trunk, whereas the glossopharyngeal (IX), vagus (X), and hypoglossal (XII), compose the craniocervical trunk. No terminal nerve is found. The first nerve exists as the independent vomeronasal and olfactory proper nerves. There is a large lagenar (auditory) part of the eighth nerve. The three main divisions of the trigeminal nerve (V) have the widest distribution in the head. In addition, there is a pterygoid division (V 4 ) in snakes, innervating the muscles of the upper jaw series of bones. The V 4 is best developed in snakes among all vertebrates. A chorda tympani of VII is present. The glossopharyngeal is a small nerve. The vagus comprises a large laryngeal branch and a larger visceral nerve to the trunk. The hypoglossal heavily innervates the tongue musculature. There are four cephalic parasympathetic ganglia: ciliary, preorbital, infraorbital, and inferior alveolar. Several of the ganglia may also include sympathetic cell bodies. The ciliary ganglion innervates intraocular smooth muscle, whereas the other ganglia supply the various cephalic glands. No distinct superior cervical sympathetic ganglion is recognized. Sympathetics distribute in the head through the craniocervical trunk and its communications with the facial and trigeminal nerves.