Cranial Nerve Diseases Refers to those disorders which affect either of the twelve cranial nerves as well as of the brain stem nuclei, originating and finishing point of the cranial nerves.Based on the disorder affecting a particular cranial nerves, these diseases can be classified as following:

TYPES OF CRANIAL NERVE DISEASES

• Abducens Nerve Diseases
• Accessory Nerve Diseases
• Cranial Nerve Neoplasms
• Cranial Nerve Injuries
• Facial Nerve Diseases
• Facial Neuralgia
• Glossopharyngeal Nerve Diseases
• Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases
• Ocular Motility Disorders
• Oculomotor Nerve Diseases
• Olfactory Nerve Diseases
• Optic Nerve Diseases
• Trigeminal Nerve Diseases
• Trochlear Nerve Diseases
• Vagus Nerve Diseases
• Vestibulocochlear Nerve Diseases

INFORMATION ON CRANIAL NERVE INJURIES

Cranial nerve injuries refers to the dis-functioning of one or more of the cranial nerves due to some traumatic injury. Sharp or intermittent Craniocerebral Trauma; Neck injuries; and Trauma to the Facial region are causal phases for cranial nerve injuries.

TYPES OF CRANIAL NERVE INJURIES

Abducens Nerve Injury

Injury to the Abducens, or sixth, cranial nerve due to trauma.
Craniocerebral Trauma or facial trauma around the nerve portion may damage the nerve; thus leading to paralyses or destrengthning of Lateral Rectus muscle.

Facial Nerve Injury

Injury to the facial nerve due to trauma.

Due to Facial Nerve Injury following may result:

• Facial Paralysis
• Decreased lacrimation and salivation
• Loss of taste sensation

Recovering of the nerve may take place smoothly making up with the original pattern, or may recover inappropriately leading to abnormal lacrimation in response to certain stimuli and syndromes (e.g., "crocodile tears").

Optic Nerve Injury

Injury to the optic nerve induced by trauma to the face or head.
These may occur with closed or penetrating injuries. Optic nerve is very sensitive; due to which a minor compression of the superior aspect of orbit may lead to its trauma.
Common identifying symptoms are:

• Visual impairment
• Papilledema
• Defect in the eye pupil

INFORMATION ON CRANIAL NERVE NEOPLASMS

Cranial Nerve Neoplasms refers to those benign and malignant Neoplasms arising from one or more of the twelve cranial nerves.

TYPES OF CRANIAL NERVE NEOPLASMS

Neuroma, Acoustic
This refers to a tumor (schwannoma) which is formed from vestibular division of the vestibulocochlear nerve. This disorder attacks usually during the age of 50s and 60s in life.

SYMPTOMS OF CRANIAL NERVE NEOPLASMS

    *Hearing impairment
    *Headache
    *Vertigo
    *Facial pain and weakness
    *Tinnitus
Bilateral acoustic neuromas are associated with NEUROFIBROMATOSIS.

Neurofibromatosis
This disease, an autosomal dominant disorder, usually occurs during the 10s and 20s of a person. It is basically linked to mutations of the NF2 gene (Neurofibromatosis 2, gene) on chromosome 22. 
    Characterized by:
    High instances of bilateral acoustic neuromas
    Schwannomas of other cranial and peripheral nerves
    Other intracranial tumors including meningiomas, ependymomas, spinal neurofibromas, and gliomas

Optic Nerve Neoplasms
These refer to the benign and malignant neoplasms arising from the optic nerve or its sheath.
        Leads to:
          *Unilateral visual loss
          *Afferent pupillary defect
       Type:
           *Optic Nerve Glioma