Cranial Nerves Review

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the names, origins, functions, fiber types, and skull exit points for the twelve cranial nerves as described in the lecture notes.

Cranial Nerve Order Mnemonic

Oh Oh Oh To Touch And To Feel Very Green Vegetables Are Heaven

Cranial Nerve Function Mnemonic

Some Say Marry Money But My Brother Says Big Boobs Matter Most

Olfactory CN $1$

A sensory nerve originating in the roof of the nasal cavity that carries SVA fibers for the function of smell through the olfactory foramina of the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone.

SVA

Special visceral afferent fibers found in the Olfactory, Facial, Glossopharyngeal, and Vagus nerves.

Optic CN $2$

A sensory nerve originating in the retina that carries SSA fibers to allow for vision, passing through the optic canal to the optic chiasma and lateral geniculate nucleus.

SSA

Special Sensory Afferent fibers found in the Optic (CN $2$) and Vestibulocochlear (CN $8$) nerves.

Oculomotor CN $3$

A motor nerve originating in the midbrain that supplies the superior rectus, levator palpebrae superioris, inferior rectus, inferior oblique, medial rectus, pupil, and ciliaris.

GSE

General somatic efferent fibers involved in motor functions for CN $3$, CN $4$, CN $6$, CN $11$, and CN $12$.

Trochlear CN $4$

A motor nerve originating in the midbrain (inferior colliculus) that supplies the superior oblique muscle and moves through the superior orbital fissure outside of the common tendinous ring.

Trigeminal CN $5$

A nerve with both sensory and motor functions originating in the pons, midbrain, and medulla that picks up sensations of touch, pain, temperature, and pressure and controls mastication.

V1 (Ophthalmic division)

The first division of the Trigeminal nerve that moves through the superior orbital fissure.

V2 (Maxillary division)

The second division of the Trigeminal nerve that moves through the foramen rotunda.

V3 (Mandibular division)

The third division of the Trigeminal nerve that moves through the foramen ovule.

Abducens CN $6$

A motor nerve originating in the pons that supplies the lateral rectus for eye movement and passes through the superior orbital fissure.

Facial CN $7$

A mixed nerve originating in the pons responsible for muscles of facial expression, lacrimation, secretion, and taste for the anterior $\frac{2}{3}$ of the tongue.

Internal acoustic meatus

One of the holes in the skull that the Facial CN $7$ and Vestibulocochlear CN $8$ move through.

Stylomastoid foramen

One of the two holes in the skull through which the Facial CN $7$ moves.

Vestibulocochlear CN $8$

A primarily sensory nerve originating at the pons/medulla junction responsible for static equilibrium, dynamic equilibrium, and sound.

Glossopharyngeal CN $9$

A mixed nerve originating in the medulla that elevates the pharynx and handles taste for $\frac{1}{3}$ of the tongue, PO2, PCO2, pH, and BP.

Jugular foramen

The skull opening for Glossopharyngeal CN $9$, Vagus CN $10$, and the cranial component of Accessory CN $11$.

Vagus CN $10$

A mixed nerve originating in the medulla that acts as the main parasympathetic nerve ($90\%\text{}$) and supplies the pharynx, larynx, heart, and aortic arch.

Accessory CN $11$

A motor nerve with cranial and spinal (C$1$-C$5$) origins that controls the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius for neck flexion and scapula movement.

Foramen magnum

The skull opening for the spinal component of the Accessory CN $11$.

Hypoglossal CN $12$

A motor nerve originating in the medulla that supplies extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the tongue to shape, protract, retract, elevate, and depress it.

Hypoglossal canal

The hole in the skull that the Hypoglossal CN $12$ moves through.