Cranial Nerves - Function

BIOL319 Lab Study

Olfactory

(I) Receives sensory information from the nose

Optic

(II) Receives sensory information from the eye, transmitting the sense of vision to the brain.

Oculomotor

(III) Transmits motor information to move the eye muscles, particularly to the medial, superior, and inferior reectus muscles and to the inferior oblique muscle.

Trochlear

(IV) Transmits motor information to move the eye muscles, particularly the motor information to the head.

Abducens

(VI) A motor nerve; moves the eye muscles, particularly the lateral rectus muscle.

Facial

(VII) Receives sensory information from the anterior tongue and takes motor information to the head muscles.

Vestibulocochlear

(VIII) Receives sensory information from the ear; the vestibular part transmits equilibrium information and the cochlear part transmits acoustic information.

Glossopharyngeal

(IX) A mixed nerve of the tongue and throat; receives information on taste.

Vagus

(X) Receives sensory information from abdomen, thorax, neck, and root of tongue; transmits motor information to pharynx and larynx; controls autonomic functions of heart, digestive organs, spleen, and kidneys.

Accessory

(XI) A motor nerve to the muscles of the neck; moves the head.

Hypoglossal

(XII) A motor nerve to the tongue.

Trigeminal

(V) A three-branched nerve; transmits both sensory information from and motor information to the head.