Cranial nerves

CN I Olfactory

Originates in the cerebrum

Visceral sensory: smell

CN II Optic

Originates in the cerebrum

Special Sensory: vision

CN III Oculomotor

Originates in the Midbrain

eyelid elevation, pupillary constriction, lens accommodation

Somatic motor: eye motion during gaze 

Visceral motor: pupillary reflex

CN IV Trochlear

Originates in the midbrain

Somatic motor: oblique eye movement (up and down)

CN V Trigeminal

Mixed Originates in the pons

Branchial motor: jaw muscles for opening/closing of the mouth

Somatic Sensory: tactile, noxious and thermal sensations from face, tongue, parts of ear canal, eardrum, and nasal mucosa 

CN VI Abducens 

Originates in the pons 

Somatic motor: lateral eye movement (side to side)

VII Facial

Mixed: originates in the pons

branchial motor: muscles of the face, stapedius muscle of the IE

visceral motor: secretion of nasal, lachrymal glands 

visceral sensory: taste (anterior 2/3 of tongue)

somatic sensory: tactile from skin of the backside of the pinna and ear canal 

VIII Vestibulocochlear

Originates in the pons

somatic sensory: balance and balance 

CN IX Glossopharyngeal

Mixed: Originates in the medulla oblongota

branchial motor: controls muscles of the pharnyx that are involved in swallowing

visceral motor: secretion of saliva

somatic sensory: somatosensation from the palate region, posterior tongue, pharnyx (gag reflex), middle ear

visceral sensory:  monitors changes in blood oxygenation and blood pressure. Taste from posterior 1/3 of tongue

CN X Vagus

Mixed: originates in the medulla

branchial motor: muscles of the pharnyx and larnyx (gag reflex, swallowing, speech) extrinsic tongue muscles

visceral motor: muscles of the heart/vessels, trachea, GI tract

visceral sensory: sensations from pharynx, larynx, cardiopulmonary system, abdominal and thoracic zones, taste from pharnyx (epiglottis and root of the tongue)

somatic sensory: somatosensation from larynx and lower pharynx 

CN XI Accessory (spinal)

originates in the medulla

branchial motor: muscles of neck and shoulders

XII Hypoglossal

originates in the medulla

somatic motor: intrinsic and extrinsic tongue muscles

Legend: motor

• Branchial motor – controls muscles in the face, jaw, throat (used for chewing, swallowing, talking).

• Visceral motor – controls involuntary muscles and glands (like heart, stomach, intestines).

• Somatic motor – controls voluntary skeletal muscles in the body (like arms, legs).

legend: sensory

• Somatic sensory – senses from skin, muscles, and joints (touch, pain, temperature, position).

• Special sensory – senses like vision, hearing, balance, taste, smell.

• Visceral sensory – senses from internal organs (like hunger, nausea, fullness, pressure)