Origins

There are twelve cranial nerves in total. The olfactory nerve (CN I) and optic nerve (CN II) originate
from the cerebrum.
Cranial nerves III XII arise from the brain stem (Figure 1). They can arise from a specific part of
the brain stem (midbrain, pons or medulla), or from a junction between two parts:
Midbrain the trochlear nerve (IV) comes from the posterior side of the midbrain. It has the
longest intracranial length of all the cranial nerves.
Midbrain-pontine junction oculomotor (III).
Pons trigeminal (V).
Pontine-medulla junction abducens, facial, vestibulocochlear (VI-VIII).
Medulla Oblongata posterior to the olive: glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory (IX-XI).
Anterior to the olive: hypoglossal (XII).
The cranial nerves are numbered by their location on the brain stem (superior to inferior, then medial
to lateral) and the order of their exit from the cranium (anterior to posterior) (Figures 1 & 2).

Sensory (afferent) Modalities:

General somatic sensory (GSS) general sensation from skin.

General visceral sensory (GVS) general sensation from viscera.

Special somatic sensory (SSS) senses derived from ectoderm (sight, sound, balance).

Special visceral sensory (SVS) senses derived from endoderm (taste).

Motor (efferent) Modalities:

General somatic motor (GSM) skeletal muscles.

General visceral motor (GVM) smooth muscles of gut and autonomic motor.

Special visceral motor (SVM) muscles derived from pharyngeal arche

Number Name Exit Modality Function

1 (CNI) Olfactory Cribriform Sensory Smell

plate (SVS)

2 (CNII) Optic Optic canal Sensory Vision

(SSS)

3 (CNIII) Oculomotor Superior Motor GSM: 4 extrinsic eye muscles

orbital fissure (GSM & and levator palpebrae
GVM) superioris.
GVM: pupillary sphincter

4 (CNIV) Trochlear Superior Motor Superior oblique

orbital fissure (GSM)

5 (CNV) Trigeminal:

Ophthalmic Superior GSS Scalp, forehead and nose.

orbital fissure

Maxillary F. rotundum GSS Cheeks, lower eye lid, nasal

mucosa, upper lip, upper teeth
and palate.
 Mandibular F. ovale GSS GSS: anterior 2/3 tongue, skin
SVM over mandible and lower teeth.
SVM: muscles of mastication.

6 (CNVI) Abducens Superior Motor Lateral rectus

orbital fissure (GSM)

7 Facial Internal Both: GSS: sensation to part of ext.

(CNVII) acoustic GSS ear.
meatus > SVS SVS: taste from ant. 2/3 tongue,
stylomastoid GSM hard and soft palate.
f. GVM
GSM: muscles of facial
expression.

GVM: lacrimal, submandibular,

sublingual glands and mucous
glands of mouth and nose.

8 Vestibulocochlear Internal Sensory Hearing and balance

(CNVIII) acoustic (SSS)
meatus

9 (CNIX) Glossopharyngeal Jugular f. Both: GSS: post. 1/3 tongue, ext. ear,
GSS and middle ear cavity.
GVS GVS: carotid body and sinus.
SVS
GVM SVS: taste from post. 1/3
SVM tongue.

GVM: parotic gland. SVM:

stylopharyngeus

10(CNX) Vagus Jugular f. Both: GSS: ext. ear, larynx and

GSS pharynx.
GVS GVS: larynx, pharynx and,
SVS thoracic & abdominal viscera.
GVM
SVM SVS: taste from epiglottis region
of tongue

GVM: smooth muscles of

pharynx, larynx and most of the
GIT.

SVM: most muscles of pharynx

and larynx.

11 Spinal accessory Jugular f. Motor GSM: trapezius and

(CNXI) (GSM & sternocleidomastoid.
SVM) SVM: a few fibres run with CNX
to viscera.

12 Hypoglossal Hypoglossal Motor Intrinsic and extrinsic tongue

(CNXII) canal (GSM) muscles (except the
palatoglossus).