Cranial Nerves

CN I Olfactory: Sensory and/or Motor?

Sensory only

CN II Optic: Sensory and/or Motor?

Sensory only

CN III Oculomotor: Sensory and/or Motor?

Motor only

CN IV Trochlear: Sensory and/or Motor?

Motor only

CN V Trigeminal: Sensory and/or Motor?

Sensory and Motor

CN VI Abducens: Sensory and/or Motor?

Motor only

CN VII Facial: Sensory and/or Motor?

Sensory and Motor

CN VIII Vestibulocochlear: Sensory and/or Motor?

Sensory only

CN IX Glossopharyngeal: Sensory and/or Motor?

Sensory and Motor

CN X Vagus: Sensory and/or Motor?

Sensory and Motor

CN XI Accessory: Sensory and/or Motor?

Motor only

CN XII Hypoglossal: Sensory and/or Motor?

Motor only

CN I Olfactory (sensory)

• provides info abt environmental odors

• contributes to taste

• provides social info

• contributes to memory

CN II Optic (sensory)

• provides visual info abt external environment

• provides visual info relevant in face-to-face communication

CN III Oculomotor (motor)

• contributes to multiple eye movements

CN IV Trochlear (motor)

• contributes to multiple eye movements

• means “pulley,” has a pulley effect

CN V Trigeminal (sensory and motor functions)

• touch and proprioceptive info related to face & most of oral cavity (so self-awareness of facial expression and speech mvmnts)

• pain & temp related to face & oral cavity, thus providing “neck up” info

• info for muscles associated w/ movement of mandible

• innervates muscles for opening auditory tube

CN V Trigeminal (specifically sensory functions)

• touch and proprioceptive info related to face & most of oral cavity (so self-awareness of facial expression and speech mvmnts)

• pain & temp related to face & oral cavity, thus providing “neck up” info

CN V Trigeminal (specifically motor functions)

• info for muscles associated w/ movement of mandible

• innervates muscles for opening auditory tube

CN VI Abducens (motor)

• moves eye to look to one side, away from midline, complimenting CN III and IV

CN VII Facial (sensory and motor functions)

• includes taste for anterior 2/3s of tongue

• includes info for muscle mvmnts of face (important for altering lip position for speech production & facial expression, and lip closure for swallowing)

• also innervates submandibular and sublingual glands that secrete saliva

CN VII Facial (specifically sensory functions)

• includes taste for anterior 2/3s of tongue

CN VII Facial (specifically motor functions)

• includes info for muscle mvmnts of face (important for altering lip position for speech production & facial expression, and lip closure for swallowing)

• also innervates submandibular and sublingual glands that secrete saliva

CN VIII Vestibulocochlear (sensory)

• for audition and balance

CN IX Glossopharyngeal (sensory and motor functions)

• includes touch & proprioception for back of oral & pharyngeal cavities, complementing CN V (think the ‘gag reflex’)

• provides taste for posterior 1/3 of tongue, complementing CN VII

• additional sensory info includes pain and temp related to posterior 1/3 of tongue & pharyngeal cavity, also complementing CN V

• also includes monitoring blood gases for O2 via carotid bodies

• widens the pharynx for swallowing large amounts of food

• may assist in raising larynx during production of high pitch sounds

• innervates parotid gland that secretes saliva, complementing CN VII

CN IX Glossopharyngeal (specifically sensory functions)

• includes touch & proprioception for back of oral & pharyngeal cavities, complementing CN V (think the ‘gag reflex’)

• provides taste for posterior 1/3 of tongue, complementing CN VII

• additional sensory info includes pain and temp related to posterior 1/3 of tongue & pharyngeal cavity, also complementing CN V

• also includes monitoring blood gases for O2 via carotid bodies

CN IX Glossopharyngeal (specifically motor functions)

• widens the pharynx for swallowing large amounts of food

• may assist in raising larynx during production of high pitch sounds

• innervates parotid gland that secretes saliva, complementing CN VII

CN X Vagus (sensory and motor functions)

• proprioception from muscles of phonation, though mostly out of our conscious awareness

• maybe taste from epiglottal region, tho more likely in animals than humans, so may complement CN VII & IX

• may convey pain & temp related to laryngeal/pharyngeal cavity

• monitors blood gases for O2 via aortic bodies, complementing CN IX

• includes info for muscles that control soft palate (velum) & vocal folds (essential for phonation and protecting airways during swallowing)

CN X Vagus (specifically sensory functions)

• proprioception from muscles of phonation, though mostly out of our conscious awareness

• maybe taste from epiglottal region, tho more likely in animals than humans, so may complement CN VII & IX

• may convey pain & temp related to laryngeal/pharyngeal cavity

• monitors blood gases for O2 via aortic bodies, complementing CN IX

CN X Vagus (specifically motor functions)

• includes info for muscles that control soft palate (velum) & vocal folds (essential for phonation and protecting airways during swallowing)

CN XI Accessory (motor)

• for two neck muscles: trapezius and sternocleidomastoid

• trapezius: raises shoulder blades

• sternocleidomastoid: turns the head, helps raise the chest wall for breathing, especially for loud speech

CN XII Hypoglossal (motor)

• for most muscles that control the tongue

• important for rapidly modifying shape of oral cavity for speech production

• also for voluntary stages of swallowing

Order of Cranial Nerves

• CN I: Olfactory

• CN II: Optic

• CN III: Oculomotor

• CN IV: Trochlear

• CN V: Trigeminal

• CN VI: Abducens

• CN VII: Facial

• CN VIII: Vestibulocochlear

• CN IX: Glossopharyngeal

• CN X: Vagus

• CN XI: Accessory

• CN XII: Hypoglossal

Location of CN I Olfactory

olfactory tract

Location of CN II Optic

above the hypothalamus, the optic chiasm

Location of CN III Oculomotor

midbrain level

Location of CN IV Trochlear

midbrain level

Location of CN V Trigeminal

pons level

Location of CN VI Abducens

pons level

Location of CN VII Facial

pons level

Location of CN VIII Vestibulocochlear

pons/medulla level (on border line of both)

Location of CN IX Glossopharyngeal

medulla level

Location of CN X Vagus

medulla level

Location of CN XI Accessory

spinal cord level

Location of CN XII Hypoglossal

medulla level