Cranial Nerves and Functions
CN I Olfactory
- Sensory function: sense of smell
- Origin: olfactory receptor cells
* Purely sensory
CN II Optic
- Sensory function: vision
- Origin: retina
CN III - Moves the eye.
- The levator palpebrae muscle helps open the eyelid.
Lr6SO4
- Lateral rectus: Cranial nerve 6
- Superior oblique: Cranial nerve 4
- Others: Cranial nerve 3
Somatic motor function: innervate four eye muscles that direct the eyeball
Visceral motor function: constrictor muscles of the iris constrict the pupil
- The medial rectus pulls the eye toward the midline.
CN IV Trochlear (Smallest cranial nerve)
- Somatic motor function: Innervate the superior oblique muscle
- The only cranial nerve with a dorsal point of attachment.
- Purely motor and innervates the superior oblique muscle.
CN V Trigeminal Nerves (longest)
Somatic motor function: mastication (chewing)
- 3 Part Section
- Opthalamic, maxilla, and mandibular
- The sensory portion is responsible for the face, touch, and temp.
- Cranial nerve #5 does not move the face; seven does.
CN VI Abducens Nerve
- Somatic motor function: Innervate the lateral rectus muscle.
- Lateral rectus - moves eyeball away
- Superior oblique (cranial nerve 4)
- Lateral rectus (cranial nerve 6)
CN VII Facial Nerve
- A mixed nerve: Chief somatic motor nerve to the facial nerves
- Taste information
- Cranial nerve #7 sends taste information for the 2/3 upper portion of the tongue
- 1/3 posterior of the tongue is innervated by nerve #9
CN VIII: Vestibulocochlear Nerves
A 2 part nerve: vestibular and cochlear nerve
Conjoins into 1 whole nerve when it leaves the ear
Only sensory
Vestibular: equilibrium/balance
Cochlear: hearing
CN IX: Glossopharyngeal
Mixed nerve
Sensory: Posterior ⅓ of tongue for taste
Motor: Swallowing
Glosso = tongue
Pharyngeal = throat/pharynx
CN X: Vagus nerves
The LONGEST cranial nerve
The only one that innervates something outside the head or neck
This is done via the autonomic system
Mixed nerve
Sensory: Taste (from the epiglottis)
Motor: Swallowing and vocalization
Parasympathetically innervates thoracic and abdominal viscera
Laryngeal prominence = Adam’s apple
CN XI: Accessory Nerves
Only motor
Innervates upper trap and sternocleidomastoid muscle
These are the main head/neck movement muscles
Originates from the cervical spinal cord and forms a nerve that goes through the foramen magnum
CN XII: Hypoglossal
Innervate underneath the tongue
Only motor
Responsible for tongue motion, such as feeding, swallowing, and speech
CN I Olfactory
- Sensory function: sense of smell
- Origin: olfactory receptor cells
* Purely sensory
CN II Optic
- Sensory function: vision
- Origin: retina
CN III - Moves the eye.
- The levator palpebrae muscle helps open the eyelid.
Lr6SO4
- Lateral rectus: Cranial nerve 6
- Superior oblique: Cranial nerve 4
- Others: Cranial nerve 3
Somatic motor function: innervate four eye muscles that direct the eyeball
Visceral motor function: constrictor muscles of the iris constrict the pupil
- The medial rectus pulls the eye toward the midline.
CN IV Trochlear (Smallest cranial nerve)
- Somatic motor function: Innervate the superior oblique muscle
- The only cranial nerve with a dorsal point of attachment.
- Purely motor and innervates the superior oblique muscle.
CN V Trigeminal Nerves (longest)
Somatic motor function: mastication (chewing)
- 3 Part Section
- Opthalamic, maxilla, and mandibular
- The sensory portion is responsible for the face, touch, and temp.
- Cranial nerve #5 does not move the face; seven does.
CN VI Abducens Nerve
- Somatic motor function: Innervate the lateral rectus muscle.
- Lateral rectus - moves eyeball away
- Superior oblique (cranial nerve 4)
- Lateral rectus (cranial nerve 6)
CN VII Facial Nerve
- A mixed nerve: Chief somatic motor nerve to the facial nerves
- Taste information
- Cranial nerve #7 sends taste information for the 2/3 upper portion of the tongue
- 1/3 posterior of the tongue is innervated by nerve #9
CN VIII: Vestibulocochlear Nerves
A 2 part nerve: vestibular and cochlear nerve
Conjoins into 1 whole nerve when it leaves the ear
Only sensory
Vestibular: equilibrium/balance
Cochlear: hearing
CN IX: Glossopharyngeal
Mixed nerve
Sensory: Posterior ⅓ of tongue for taste
Motor: Swallowing
Glosso = tongue
Pharyngeal = throat/pharynx
CN X: Vagus nerves
The LONGEST cranial nerve
The only one that innervates something outside the head or neck
This is done via the autonomic system
Mixed nerve
Sensory: Taste (from the epiglottis)
Motor: Swallowing and vocalization
Parasympathetically innervates thoracic and abdominal viscera
Laryngeal prominence = Adam’s apple
CN XI: Accessory Nerves
Only motor
Innervates upper trap and sternocleidomastoid muscle
These are the main head/neck movement muscles
Originates from the cervical spinal cord and forms a nerve that goes through the foramen magnum
CN XII: Hypoglossal
Innervate underneath the tongue
Only motor
Responsible for tongue motion, such as feeding, swallowing, and speech