Variations in the number of rootlets of the trochlear nerve

Bąk K, Mordarski M, Iskra T, Kozioł T, Lusina D, Patra A, Paulsen F, Walocha J (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger Elsevier

Book Volume: 262

Article Number: 152700

DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2025.152700

Abstract

Background: The trochlear nerve is the fourth cranial nerve with the thinnest and the longest intracranial course of them all. The trochlear nerve is the only cranial nerve that originates from the dorsal part of the midbrain and innervates the contralateral superior oblique muscle. The number of its rootlets can vary, ranging from 1 to 6. Material and Methods: In this study of body donors, we dissected and examined 87 trochlear nerves from 44 body donors to determine the number of rootlets. Our results were then combined with data from previously published studies on the same topic. Results: Of the 87 nerves analyzed, one rootlet was found 26 times, two rootlets 43 times, three rootlets 13 times and four rootlets 5 times. After combining our results with other articles, the total number of specimens analyzed reached 663, with the following distribution: one rootlet - 35.90 %; two rootlets - 47.21 %; three rootlets - 12.82 %; four rootlets - 3.17 %; five rootlets - 0.75 %; six rootlets - 0.15 %. The longest rootlet was found in the three-rootlet pattern and measured 9.36 mm (SD = 0.22 mm). Conclusion: Knowledge of the anatomy of the trochlear nerve and its rootlets plays a decisive role in complex microsurgical and endoscopic transcranial or endonasal procedures in the area of the supracerebellar region and middle cranial fossa.

Authors with CRIS profile

Friedrich Paulsen Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle und Klinische Anatomie

Involved external institutions

Jagiellonian University Medical College PL Poland (PL) All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bathinda IN India (IN)

How to cite

APA:

Bąk, K., Mordarski, M., Iskra, T., Kozioł, T., Lusina, D., Patra, A.,... Walocha, J. (2025). Variations in the number of rootlets of the trochlear nerve. Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger, 262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aanat.2025.152700

MLA:

Bąk, Kacper, et al. "Variations in the number of rootlets of the trochlear nerve." Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger 262 (2025).

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