Cranial Nerves

Question 1

What is a mnemonic for remembering the cranial nerves?

Answer 1

Olympic Opium Occupies Troubled Triathletes After Finishing Vegas Gambling Vacation Still High

Question 2

What does “Olympic” stand for? What parts of sensory/motor function are controlled by this cranial nerve?

Answer 2

Olfactory nerve:
sensory - smell

Question 3

What does “Opium” stand for? What parts of sensory/motor function are controlled by this cranial nerve?

Answer 3

Optic nerve:
sensory - vision

Question 4

What does “Occupies” stand for? What parts of sensory/motor function are controlled by this cranial nerve?

Answer 4

Oculomotor nerve
motor - eye movement

Question 5

What does “Troubled” stand for? What parts of sensory/motor function are controlled by this cranial nerve?

Answer 5

Trochlear nerve:
motor - eye movement

Question 6

What does “Triathletes” stand for? What parts of sensory/motor function are controlled by this cranial nerve?

Answer 6

Trigeminal nerve:
sensory - face, sinuses, teeth
motor - jaw muscles

Question 7

What does “After” stand for? What parts of sensory/motor function are controlled by this cranial nerve?

Answer 7

Abducens nerve:
motor - eye movement

Question 8

What does “Finishing” stand for? What parts of sensory/motor function are controlled by this cranial nerve?

Answer 8

Facial nerve:
sensory - tongue, soft palate
motor - facial muscles, salivary glands, tear glands

Question 9

What does “Vegas” stand for? What parts of sensory/motor function are controlled by this cranial nerve?

Answer 9

Vestibulocochlear nerve:
sensory - inner ear: hearing and balance

Question 10

What does “Gambling” stand for?

Answer 10

Glossopharyngeal:
sensory - taste and other mouth sensations
motor - throat muscles

Question 11

What does “Vacation” stand for? What parts of sensory/motor function are controlled by this cranial nerve?

Answer 11

Vagus nerve:
sensory - information from internal organs
motor - internal organs

Question 12

What does “Still” stand for? What parts of sensory/motor function are controlled by this cranial nerve?

Answer 12

Spinal accessory nerve:
motor - neck muscles

Question 13

What does “High” stand for? What parts of sensory/motor function are controlled by this cranial nerve?

Answer 13

Hypoglossal nerve:
motor - tongue muscles

Question 14

How many cranial nerves are associated with sensory function?Name the cranial nerve and the associated sensory function.

Answer 14

Seven.

1 - Olfactory (smell)
2 - Optic (vision)
5 - Trigeminal (face, sinuses, teeth)
7 - Facial (tongue, soft palate)
8 - Vestibulocochlear (inner ear: hearing and balance)
9 - Glossopharyngeal (taste and other mouth sensations)
10 - Vagus (information from internal organs)

Question 15

Name the cranial nerves associated with motor function. How many are there?

Answer 15

There are nine.

3 - Oculomotor
4 - Trochlear
6 - Abducens
-> all muscles that move eyes

5 - Trigeminal (jaw muscles)
7 - Facial (facial muscles, salivary glands, tear glands)
9 - Glossopharyngeal (throat muscles)
10 - Vagus (internal organs)
11 - Spinal accessory (neck muscles)
12 - Hypoglossal (tongue muscles)

Question 16

Which cranial nerves are ONLY associated with sensory function?

Answer 16

1 - Olfactory (smell)
2 - Optic (vision)
8 - Vestibulocochlear (inner ear: hearing and balance)

Question 17

Which cranial nerves are ONLY associated with motor function?

Answer 17

The nerves responsible for eye movement:
3 - Oculomotor
4 - Trochlear
6 - Abducens

11 - Spinal accessory (neck muscles)
12 - Hypoglossal (tongue muscles)

Question 18

Are cranial nerve deficits ipsilateral or contralateral?

Answer 18

Ipsilateral (same side) with the exception of the optic nerve (2; vision) and the trochlear nerve (4; eye movement), which are contralateral (opposite side).