Cranial Nerves

Cranial Nerve names & Functions Mnemonic

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Olfactory I -

• Type: Sensory

• Function: Smell

• Origin: Cerebrum (olfactory bulb/tract; nasal cavity connection)

Optic II - S

• Type: Sensory

• Function: Vision (retina → brain)

• Origin: Diencephalon

Oculomotor III

• Type: Motor (with parasympathetic)

• Function:

  • Moves eyeball & eyelid

  • Controls pupil constriction + lens shape

• Origin: Midbrain (brainstem)

Trochlear IV

• Type: Motor

• Function:

  • Moves eyeball (single muscle)

• Origin: Midbrain (brainstem)

Trigeminal V

• Type: Both (sensory + motor)

• Function:

  • Sensory from face (skin, teeth, pain)

  • Motor for chewing (mastication)

• Origin: Brainstem

Abducens VI

• Type: Motor

• Function:

  • Moves eye laterally (side-to-side)

• Origin: Brainstem

Facial VII

• Type: Both (with parasympathetic)

• Function:

  • Facial expressions

  • Taste (anterior 2/3 of tongue)

  • Saliva & tear production

• Origin: Brainstem

Vestibulocochlear VIII

• Type: Sensory

• Function:

  • Hearing (cochlear)

  • Balance (vestibular)

• Origin: Brainstem

Glossopharyngeal IX

• Type: Both (with parasympathetic)

• Function:

  • Taste (posterior 1/3 of tongue)

  • Swallowing

  • Monitors blood pressure, pH, gases

  • Saliva (parotid gland)

• Origin: Brainstem

Vagus X

• Type: Both (major parasympathetic)

• Function:

  • Swallowing & voice

  • Sensory from organs (thoracic + abdominal)

  • Parasympathetic control of heart, lungs, digestive system

• Origin: Brainstem

Accessory XI

• Type: Motor

• Function:

  • Moves head & neck (sternocleidomastoid, trapezius)

  • Assists with swallowing

• Origin: Brainstem + spinal cord

Hypoglossal XII

• Type: Motor

• Function:

  • Tongue movement (speech + swallowing)

• Origin: Brainstem