Cranial Nerves & Skull Foramina

Question-and-Answer flashcards covering the names, skull exits (foramina), and functional modalities of all cranial nerves and the three trigeminal divisions.

How many cranial nerves are there in total?

12

Which cranial nerve passes through the cribriform plate and is purely sensory?

Cranial Nerve I (Olfactory)

Through which foramen does the Optic nerve (CN II) exit the skull, and is it sensory, motor, or both?

Optic Canal

Which cranial nerve passes through the superior orbital fissure and is primarily motor to most extra-ocular muscles?

Cranial Nerve III (Oculomotor)

Which cranial nerve, also passing through the superior orbital fissure, innervates the superior oblique muscle?

Cranial Nerve IV (Trochlear)

Which cranial nerve has three major divisions (ophthalmic, maxillary, mandibular) and carries both sensory and motor fibers?

Cranial Nerve V (Trigeminal)

What is the name, skull exit, and functional type of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve?

V1 Ophthalmic division; Superior Orbital Fissure

Through which foramen does the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve leave the skull, and what is its functional type?

Foramen Rotundum; (V2 Maxillary)

Which trigeminal division passes through the foramen ovale and carries both sensory and motor fibers?

V3 Mandibular division

Which cranial nerve passes through the superior orbital fissure to supply the lateral rectus muscle?

Cranial Nerve VI (Abducens)

Through which opening does the Facial nerve (CN VII) enter/leave the skull, and is it sensory, motor, or both?

Internal Acoustic Meatus

Which cranial nerve, purely sensory for hearing and balance, also uses the internal acoustic meatus?

Cranial Nerve VIII (Vestibulocochlear)

Which cranial nerve exits via the jugular foramen and carries both sensory and motor fibers to the pharynx and tongue?

Cranial Nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal)

Which cranial nerve leaves through the jugular foramen to provide extensive parasympathetic output to thoracic and abdominal organs?

Cranial Nerve X (Vagus)

Which motor cranial nerve supplying the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius exits via the jugular foramen?

Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory)

Which cranial nerve passes through the hypoglossal canal and supplies motor innervation to the tongue muscles?

Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal)