Cranial Nerve Basics (name, function, & foramen)

Name of CN I

Olfactory Nerve

Function of CN I

Special sensory: smell

Foramen of CN I

Cribriform plate of ethmoid bone

Name of CN II

Optic Nerve

Function of CN II

Special sensory: vision

Foramen of CN II

Optic canal

Name of CN III

Oculomotor Nerve

Function of CN III

-Somatic motor to extraocular muscles

-Parasympathetic motor to sphincter pupillae muscle

Foramen of CN III

Superior orbital fissure

Name of CN IV

Trochlear Nerve

Function of CN IV

Somatic motor to superior oblique muscle

Foramen of CN IV

Superior orbital fissure

Name of CN V

Trigeminal Nerve

Primary function of CN V

Somatic sensory to face, sinuses, and nasal cavity; somatic motor to muscles of mastication

Ganglion associated with CN V

Trigeminal ganglion

Divisions of CN V

V1 Ophthalmic, V2 Maxillary, V3 Mandibular

V1 division of CN V

Ophthalmic nerve

Branches of V1

Nasociliary nerve, Frontal nerve, Lacrimal nerve

Foramen of V1

Superior orbital fissure

V2 division of CN V

Maxillary nerve

Foramen of V2

Foramen rotundum

V3 division of CN V

Mandibular nerve

Foramen of V3

Foramen ovale

Name of CN VI

Abducent (Abducens) Nerve

Function of CN VI

Somatic motor to lateral rectus muscle

Foramen of CN VI

Superior orbital fissure

Name of CN VII

Facial Nerve

Function of CN VII

Somatic sensorimotor, special sensory, and parasympathetic functions

Foramen of CN VII

Internal acoustic foramen

Name of CN VIII

Vestibulocochlear Nerve

Function of CN VIII

Special sensory: hearing and balance

Foramen of CN VIII

Internal acoustic meatus

Name of CN IX

Glossopharyngeal Nerve

Function of CN IX

Somatic sensory

• Middle ear, pharyngotympanic tube, upper pharynx,

palatine tonsils, & posterior 1/3rd of tongue

Somatic motor

• Muscles of the pharynx

Special sensory

• Taste to posterior 1/3rd of tongue

Visceral Sensory

• Blood pressure/chemistry from carotid body

Parasympathetics

• Parotid salivary gland

• Synapse at otic gang.

Foramen of CN IX

Jugular foramen

Name of CN X

Vagus Nerve

Function of CN X

Somatic sensory

• Posterior dura, ear and external auditory

canal.

Somatic motor

• Muscles of soft palate, pharynx (some)

and larynx (+ palatoglossus m.)

Special sensory

• Taste around epiglottis

Visceral sensory

• Esophagus, thoracic viscera, and fore- to

midgut viscera. Chemoreception.

Parasympathetics

• Smooth mm. of pharynx, larynx, thoracic

viscera, and fore- to midgut viscera

Foramen of CN X

Jugular foramen

Name of CN XI

Accessory Nerve

Function of CN XI

Somatic motor to sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles

Foramen of CN XI

Jugular foramen

Name of CN XII

Hypoglossal Nerve

Function of CN XII

Somatic motor to intrinsic and extrinsic tongue muscles except palatoglossus

Muscle not innervated by CN XII

Palatoglossus (innervated by CN X)

Foramen of CN XII

Hypoglossal canal