Cranial Nerve Reflexes

Front 1

Carotid sinus reflex (mechanical pressure over sinus to decrease heart rate and blood pressure)

Back 1

Afferent: Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) to nucleus solitarius
Efferent: Nerve X

Front 2

Gag reflex
(stroke pharynx)

Back 2

Afferent: Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
Efferent: Nerve X

Front 3

Jaw-jerk reflex
(stretch reflex for masseter)

Back 3

Afferent: Afferent from trigeminal nerve (V) to mesencephalic nucleus of V, which then project to motor nucleus of V
Efferent: Trigeminal nerve (V) via motor nucleus of V

Front 4

Vestibulo-ocular reflex
(head/eye compensatory mvmts to stay on a target when head/body moves)

Back 4

Afferent: Vestibular component of nerve VIII to vestibular nucleus.
Efferent: Nerves III, IV, VI (via oculomotor, trochlear, abducens nuclei)

Front 5

Nasal reflex
(foreign object to nasal cavity)

Back 5

Afferent: trigmeinal nerve (V)
Efferent: Nerves V, VII, IX, X

Front 6

Corneal reflex
(foreign object causes orbicularis oculi to contract eyelids to close)

Back 6

Afferent: Nerve V1 (ophthalmic branch)
Efferent: Facial nerve (VII)

Front 7

Pupillary light reflex
(pupil constriction responding to light)

Back 7

Afferent: Optic nerve II
Efferent: Oculomotor nerve III via Edinger-Westphal nucleus