Overview of cranial nerves

Question 1

What is cranial nerve 1?

Answer 1

Olfactory nerve, sensory
-sense of smell

Question 2

What is cranial nerve 2?

Answer 2

Optic nerve, sensory
-vision

Question 3

What is cranial nerve 3?

Answer 3

Oculomotor nerve, motor
-eye movements
-pupillary response
-muscle of upper eyelid

Question 4

What is cranial nerve 4?

Answer 4

Trochlear Nerve, motor
-eye movements of intorsion and downward gaze

Question 5

What is cranial nerve 5?

Answer 5

Trigeminal nerve, sensory and motor
-somatic sensation from face, mouth, cornea
-muscles of mastication (chewing)

Question 6

What is cranial nerve 6?

Answer 6

Abducens nerve, motor
-eye movements (abduction and lateral)

Question 7

What is cranial nerve 7?

Answer 7

Facial nerve, sensory and motor
-muscles of facial expression
-taste in anterior tongue
-lacrimal and salivary glands

Question 8

What is cranial nerve 8?

Answer 8

Vestibulocochlear (auditory) nerve, sensory
-hearing
-sense of balance

Question 9

What is cranial nerve 9?

Answer 9

Glossopharyngeal nerve, sensory and motor
-sensation of posterior tongue and pharynx
-taste in posterior tongue
-carotid baroreceptors and chemoreceptors
-salivary gland

Question 10

What is cranial nerve 10?

Answer 10

Vagus nerve, sensory and motor
-autonomic functions of gut
-cardiac inhibition
-sensation from larynx/pharynx
-muscles of vocal chords
-swallowing

Question 11

What is cranial nerve 11?

Answer 11

Spinal accessory nerve, motor
-shoulder and neck muscles

Question 12

What is cranial nerve 12?

Answer 12

Hypoglossal nerve, motor
-movement of tongue