Cranial Nerves

Question 1

CN I

Answer 1

OLFACTORY NERVE(sensory)

function: smell
pathway: axons enter skull through cribiform foramina and synapse in olfactory bulb in the forebrain

Question 2

CN II

Answer 2

OPTIC NERVE(sensory)

function: vision
pathway: axons enter skull through optic foramen, some cross at optic chasm, most synapse in the thalamus

Question 3

CN III

Answer 3

OCULOMOTOR NERVE (motor)

function: motor to 4 extrinsic eye muscles, parasympathetic to iris- constricts the pupil
pathway: axons exit skull through superior orbital fissure

Question 4

CN IV

Answer 4

TROCHLEAR NERVE(motor)

function: motor to superior oblique eye muscle
pathway: axons exit skull through superior orbital fissure

Question 5

CN V

Answer 5

TRIGEMINAL NERVE(both)
V1: sensory to forehead, axons enter through superior orbital fissure
V2: sensory to middle of face, axons enter through foramen rotunda
V3: sensory to jaw and lower part of face, motor to muscles of mastication, axons travel through foramen ovale

Question 6

CN VI

Answer 6

ABDUCENS NERVE (motor)

function: motor to lateral rectus muscle of eye
pathway: axons leave through superior orbital fissure

Question 7

CN VII

Answer 7

FACIAL NERVE (both)

function: motor to muscles of facial expression, parasympathetic to some salivary glands, sensory to anterior 2/3 of tongue
pathway: axons travel through internal acoustic meatus

Question 8

CN VIII

Answer 8

VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR NERVE (sensory)

function: equilibrium and hearing
pathway: axons enter through internal acoustic meatus

Question 9

CN IX

Answer 9

GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL NERVE (both)

function: motor to parotid gland and pharynx, sensory to posterior 1/3 of tongue
pathway: axons travel through internal jugular foramen

Question 10

CN X

Answer 10

VAGUS NERVE (both)

function: sensory for taste in epiglottis and pharynx and general sensation to oral cavity, motor to larynx and parasympathetic to most viscera
pathway: axons travel through internal acoustic meatus

Question 11

CN XI

Answer 11

ACCESSORY NERVE (motor)

function: motor to trapezius and sterniocleidomastoid
pathway: axons exit through internal acoustic meatus

Question 12

CN XII

Answer 12

HYPOGLOSSAL NERVE (motor)

function: motor to tongue
pathway: cell bodies in medulla, axons travel through hypoglossal canal