Cranial Nerves

Question 1

What is the anagram for remembering the cranial nerves?

Answer 1

O, o, o to touch and feel very good velvet - such heaven!

Question 2

What is CN I? (S, M or P?)

Answer 2

Olfactory - S

Question 3

What is CN II? (S, M or P?

Answer 3

Optic - S

Question 4

What is CN III? (S, M or P?)

Answer 4

Oculomotor - MP

Question 5

What is CN IV? (S, M or P?)

Answer 5

Trochlear - M

Question 6

What is CN V? (S, M or P?)

Answer 6

Trigeminal - SM

Question 7

What is CN VI? (S, M or P?)

Answer 7

Abducens - M

Question 8

What is CN VII? (S, M or P?)

Answer 8

Facial - SMP

Question 9

What is CN VIII? (S, M or P?)

Answer 9

Vestibulocochlear - S

Question 10

What is CN IX? (S, M or P?)

Answer 10

Glossopharyngeal - SMP

Question 11

What is CN X? (S, M or P?)

Answer 11

Vagus - SMP

Question 12

What is CN XI? (S, M or P?)

Answer 12

Accessory - M

Question 13

What is CN XII? (S, M or P?)

Answer 13

Hypoglossal - M

Question 14

What is the function of the olfactory nerve?

What does it pass through?

Answer 14

CN I - S
Smell information from the nasal cavity to brain
Cribiform plate

Question 15

What is the function of the optic nerve?

What does it pass through?

Answer 15

CN II - S
Visual information from retina to brain
Optic canal

Question 16

What is the function of the oculomotor nerve?

Answer 16

CN III - MP
Motor - controls 4/6 eye muscles (not lateral rectus and superior oblique)
Parasympathetic - regulates sphincter papillae (pupil constriction)

Question 17

Where does the oculomotor nerve emerge from?

Answer 17

Junction between midbrain and the pons

Question 18

What is the function of the trochlear nerve?

Answer 18

CN IV - M

Controls superior oblique eye muscle

Question 19

What is the function of the trigeminal nerve?

Answer 19

CN V - SM
Sensory - brings information from all areas of the brain via 3 branches
Motor - controls muscles of mastication

Question 20

What are the 3 branches of the trigeminal nerve?

Answer 20

Maxillary (V1)
Mandibular (V2)
Opthalamic (V3)

Question 21

What do the 3 branches of the trigeminal nerve pass through?

Answer 21

Maxillary (V1) passes through the foramen rotundum
Mandibular (V2) passes through the foramen ovale
Opthalamic (V3) passes through the superior orbital fissure

Question 22

What is the function of the abducens nerve?

Answer 22

CN VI - M

Controls the lateral rectus muscle

Question 23

What passes through the superior orbital fissure?

Answer 23

CN III - oculomotor
CN IV - trochlear
V3 of CN V - opthalmic branch of trigeminal nerve

Question 24

What is the function of the facial nerve?

Answer 24

CN VII - SMP
Sensory - sense of taste from inferior anterior aspect of the tongue
Motor - controls facial muscles
Parasympathetic - innervates salivary glands

Question 25

What is the function of the vestibulocochlear nerve?

Answer 25

CN VIII - S

Brings sensation associated with sound and motion from the inner ear to the vestibular nuclei

Question 26

What does the vestibulocochlear nerve pass through?

Answer 26

Internal acoustic meatus

Question 27

What is the function of the glossopharyngeal nerve?

Answer 27

CN IX - SMP
Sensory - brings taste from posterior aspect of the tongue
Motor - controls movement of stylopharyngeus muscle (controls pharynx)
Parasympathetic - innervates salivary glands

Question 28

What is the function of the vagus nerve?

Answer 28

CN X - SMP
Sensory - sensory information from muscles of the pharynx and larynx
Motor - innervates soft palate, pharynx and larynx
Paraympathetic - rest and digest, slows HR and lowers BP

Question 29

What does the vagus nerve pass through?

Answer 29

Jugular foramen

Question 30

What is the function of the accessory nerve?

Answer 30

CN XI - M

Innervates sternocleidomastoid muscle and trapezius

Question 31

What does the accessory nerve pass through?

Answer 31

Jugular foramen

Question 32

What is the function of the hypoglossal nerve?

Answer 32

CN XII - M

Innervates muscles of the tongue