Cranial Nerves

Question 1

Olfactory Nerve

Answer 1

Cranial nerve I

sensory

sense of smell

olfactory bulb and tract in forebrain

Skull exit: cribriform plate

Question 2

Optic Nerve

Answer 2

Cranial nerve II

sensory

vision

optic chiasm and tract in forebrain

Skull exit: optic canal

Question 3

Oculomotor nerve

Answer 3

Cranial nerve III

motor

eye movements, papillary constriction, muscles of eyelids

Brainstem exit: interpeduncular fossa

Skull exit: superior orbital fissure

Question 4

Trochlear nerve

Answer 4

Cranial nerve IV

motor

eye movements

brainstem exits: caudal inferior colliculus

skull exit: superior orbital fissure

Question 5

Trigeminal Nerve

Answer 5

cranial nerve V

sensory and motor

somatic sensation from face, mouth, cornea
muscles of mastication

brainstem exit: middle cerebellar peduncle

skull exit: V1 (opthalamic)-superior orbital fissure
V2 (maxillary)- foreman rotundum
V3 (mandibular)- foreman ovale

Question 6

Abducens Nerve

Answer 6

Cranial nerve VI

motor

eye movements

Brainstem Exit: pontomedullary junction

Skull exit: superior orbital fissure

Question 7

Facial Nerve

Answer 7

Cranial nerve VII

motor and sensory

controls muscles of facial expression, taste from anterior tongue, lacrimal and salivary glands

brainstem exit: pontomedullary junction

skull exit: internal auditory meatus/ stylomastoid process

Question 8

Vestibulocochlear

Answer 8

Cranial nerve VIII

sensory

hearing, sense of balance

Brainstem exit: pontomedullary junction

skull exit: internal auditory meatus

Question 9

Glossopharyngeal

Answer 9

Cranial nerve IX

sensory and motor

sensation from pharynx, taste from posterior tongue, carotid barorecpetors and chemoreceptors

Brainstem exit: post olivary sulcus

Skull exit: jugular foramen

Question 10

Vagus Nerve

Answer 10

Cranial nerve X

sensory and motor

autonomic functions of gut, sensation from pharynx muscles of vocal cords, swallowing

Brainstem exit: post olivary sulcus

Skull exit: jugular foramen

Question 11

Spinal Accessory Nerve

Answer 11

Cranial nerve XI

motor

muscles of neck and shoulder

Brainstem exit: post olivary sulcus

Skull exit: jugular foramen (enters via foramen magnum)

Question 12

Hypoglossal Nerve

Answer 12

Cranial nerve XII

motor

movements of tongue

Brainstem Exit: preolivary sulcus

Skull exit: hypoglossal canal