Overview Somatic motor component Origin, central course Intracranial course Final innervation Visceral motor component Origin and course Final innervation

Cranial Nerve III - Oculomotor Nerve Page 10 of 16 Visceral motor component, origin and course The visceral motor component originates from the Edinger-Westphal nucleus located in the rostral midbrain at the level of the superior colliculus. In a coronal cross-section of the brainstem the Edinger-Westphal nucleus sit within the "V-shaped" oculomotor nuclei just ventral to the cerebral aqueduct. Preganglionic parasympathetic fibers course ventrally through the midbrain, interpeduncular fossa, cavernous sinus, and superior orbital fissure along with the somatic motor fibers of CN III. Figure 3-10. Visceral motor component, origin and course.

Last revised: March 22, 1998