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What are the 12 cranial nerves?

Medically reviewed by Heidi Moawad, M.D. — By Shannon Johnson —
Updated on January 5, 2023

Olfactory nerve Optic nerve Oculomotor nerve Trochlear nerve

Trigeminal nerve Abducens nerve Facial nerve
Vestibulocochlear nerve Glossopharyngeal nerve Vagus nerve
Accessory nerve Hypoglossal nerve Diagram Summary FAQs

The cranial nerves are a set of twelve nerves that

originate in the brain. Each has a different function
responsible for sense or movement. They include the
olfactory nerve, which is essential for detecting smells
and the optic nerve, which enables a person to see.

Ibai Acevedo/Stocksy

The functions of the cranial nerves are sensory, motor, or both. Sensory
cranial nerves help a person see, smell, and hear. Conversely, motor
cranial nerves help control muscle movements in the head and neck.

Each nerve has a name that reflects its function and a number according
to its location in the brain. Scientists use Roman numerals from I to XII to
label the cranial nerves in the brain.

The 12 cranial nerves include the:

olfactory nerve
optic nerve
oculomotor nerve

trochlear nerve
trigeminal nerve

abducens nerve

facial nerve
vestibulocochlear nerve
glossopharyngeal nerve
vagus nerve
accessory nerve

hypoglossal nerve

This article will explore the functions of each of the cranial nerves and
provide a diagram.
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I. Olfactory nerve
The olfactory nerve transmits information regarding a person’s sense of
smell to the brain.

When an individual inhales fragrant molecules, olfactory receptors within

the nasal passage send  the impulses to the cranial cavity, which then
travel to the olfactory bulb.

Specialized olfactory neurons and nerve fibers meet with other nerves,
which pass into the olfactory tract.

The olfactory tract then travels to the frontal lobe and other areas of the
brain that have a role in memory and the notation of different smells.

II. Optic nerve

The optic nerve transmits information to the brain regarding a person’s
vision.

When light enters the eye, it hits the retina, which contains rods and
cones. These are photoreceptors that translate  signals from light into
visual information for the brain.

These cones sit within the central retina and have a role in color vision.
Conversely, the rods in the peripheral retina are responsible for noncolor
vision.

The photoreceptors carry signal impulses along nerve cells to form the
optic nerve. Most of the fibers of the optic nerve cross into a structure
called the optic chiasm. The optic tract then projects to the primary visual
cortex in the occipital lobe at the back of the brain. The occipital lobe is
where the brain handles visual information.
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III. Oculomotor nerve
The oculomotor nerve helps control muscle movements of the eyes.

The oculomotor nerve provides  movement to most of the muscles that

move the eyeball and upper eyelid, known as extraocular muscles.

The oculomotor nerve also helps with involuntary functions of the eye. For
example, the sphincter pupillae muscle automatically constricts the pupil
to allow less light into the eye in bright light conditions. When it is dark,
the muscle relaxes to allow more light to enter.

Another function is when the ciliary muscles help the lens adjust to short-
range and long-range vision. This happens automatically when a person
looks at near or far objects.

IV. Trochlear nerve

The trochlear nerve  also has a role in eye movement.

The trochlear nerve, like the oculomotor nerve, originates in the midbrain.
It powers the contralateral superior oblique muscle that allows the eye to
point downward and inward.

V. Trigeminal nerve
The trigeminal nerve is the largest cranial nerve and has both motor and
sensory functions.

Its motor functions help a person to chew and clench the teeth. It also
gives  sensation to muscles in the tympanic membrane of the ear.
Its sensory division has three parts that connect to sensory receptor sites
on the face:

The ophthalmic part gives sensation to parts of the eyes, including

the cornea, mucosa in the nose, and skin on the nose, the eyelid,
and the forehead.
The maxillary part gives sensation to the middle third of the face,
side of the nose, upper teeth, and lower eyelid.
The mandibular part gives sensation to the lower third of the face,
the tongue, mucosa in the mouth, and lower teeth.

Trigeminal neuralgia is a common disorder of the trigeminal nerve that

can cause intense pain and facial tics.

VI. Abducens nerve

The abducens nerve also helps  control eye movements.

It helps the lateral rectus muscle, one of the extraocular muscles, turn the
gaze outward.

The abducens nerve starts in the pons of the brainstem, enters an area
called Dorello’s canal, travels through the cavernous sinus, and ends at
the lateral rectus muscle within the bony orbit.

VII. Facial nerve

The facial nerve also has both motor and sensory functions.

The facial nerve is consists of  four nuclei that serve different functions:

movement of muscles that produce facial expression

movement of the lacrimal, submaxillary, and submandibular glands

the sensation of the external ear

the sensation of taste

The four nuclei originate in the pons and medulla and join together to
travel to the geniculate ganglion.

Bell’s palsy is a common disorder of the facial nerve, which causes

paralysis on one side of the face and possibly loss of taste sensation.

VIII. Vestibulocochlear nerve

The vestibulocochlear nerve helps  with a person’s hearing and balance.

This nerve contains two components: the vestibular nerve and the
cochlear nerve. The vestibular nerve helps the body sense changes in the
position of the head with regard to gravity. The body uses this information
to maintain balance.

The cochlear nerve helps with hearing. Specialized inner hair cells and
the basilar membrane vibrate in response to sounds and determine the
frequency and magnitude of the sound.

These fibers combine in the pons and exit the skull via the internal
acoustic meatus in the temporal bone.
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IX. Glossopharyngeal nerve

The glossopharyngeal nerve possesses  both motor and sensory
functions.
The sensory function receives information from the throat, tonsils, middle
ear, and back of the tongue. It also has a role in the sensation of taste on
the back of the tongue.

The motor division provides movement to the stylopharyngeus, a muscle

that allows the throat to shorten and widen.

The glossopharyngeal nerve starts in the medulla oblongata in the brain

and leaves the skull through the jugular foramen, which leads to the
tympanic nerve.

X. Vagus nerve
The vagus nerve has  a range of functions, providing motor, sensory, and
parasympathetic functions.

The sensory part provides sensation to the outer part of the ear,
throat, heart, and abdominal organs. It also plays a role in taste
sensation.

The motor part provides movement to the throat and soft palate.
The parasympathetic function regulates heart rhythm and innervates
the smooth muscles in the airway, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract.

Doctors use vagus nerve stimulation therapy to treat various conditions,

including epilepsy, depression, and anxiety.

Learn more about the vagus nerve and stimulation therapy.

XI. Accessory nerve

The accessory nerve provides  motor function to some muscles in the
neck.

It controls the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles that allow a

person to rotate, extend, and flex the neck and shoulders.

The accessory nerve separates into spinal and cranial parts.

The spinal component starts in the spinal cord and travels into the skull
through the foramen magnum. From there, it meets the cranial
component of the accessory nerve and exits the skull along the internal
carotid artery.

The cranial part of the accessory nerve combines with the vagus nerve.

XII. Hypoglossal nerve

The hypoglossal nerve is a motor nerve that supplies  the tongue
muscles. It originates in the medulla.

Disorders of the hypoglossal nerve can cause paralysis of the tongue,

most often occurring on one side.

Diagram of cranial nerves

The following diagram illustrates the different ways cranial nerves impact
the brain:
Summary
The twelve cranial nerves are a group of nerves that start in the brain and
provide motor and sensory functions to the head and neck.

Each cranial nerve has unique anatomical characteristics and functions.

Doctors can identify neurological or psychiatric disorders by testing

cranial nerve functions.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some common questions and answers about the 12 cranial
nerves.
How do I remember the 12 cranial nerves?

There are many mnemonics a person can use to remember the 12 cranial
nerves. One example is: “Oh Oh Oh To Touch And Feel Very Good Velvet
— Ah, Heaven!”

Which cranial nerve is largest?

The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve as it starts in the medulla —
the bottom part of the brain — and extends to the abdomen.

Which is the shortest nerve?

The shortest cranial nerve is the trochlear nerve, as it has the lowest
number of axons.

Last medically reviewed on May 31, 2022

Neurology / Neuroscience Psychology / Psychiatry

How we reviewed this article:

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Everything you need to know about

the vagus nerve
Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D.O. — By Tom Seymour on June 28,
2017

What is the vagus nerve? Stimulation

Further research and considerations
The vagus nerve is the longest and most complex of the
12 pairs of cranial nerves that emanate from the brain. It
transmits information to or from the surface of the brain to
tissues and organs elsewhere in the body.

The name “vagus” comes from the Latin term for “wandering.” This is
because the vagus nerve wanders from the brain into organs in the neck,
chest, and abdomen.

It is also known as the 10th cranial nerve or cranial nerve X.

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What is the vagus nerve?

The vagus nerve is one of the cranial nerves that connect the brain to the body.

The vagus nerve has two bunches of sensory nerve cell bodies, and it
connects the brainstem to the body. It allows the brain to monitor and
receive information about several of the body’s different functions.

There are multiple nervous system functions provided by the vagus nerve
and its related parts. The vagus nerve functions contribute to the
autonomic nervous system, which consists of the parasympathetic and
sympathetic parts.

The nerve is responsible for certain sensory activities and motor

information for movement within the body.

Essentially, it is part of a circuit that links the neck, heart, lungs, and the
abdomen to the brain.

What does the vagus nerve affect?

The vagus nerve has a number of different functions. The four key
functions of the vagus nerve are:

Sensory: From the throat, heart, lungs, and abdomen.

Special sensory: Provides taste sensation behind the tongue.

Motor: Provides movement functions for the muscles in the neck

responsible for swallowing and speech.

Parasympathetic: Responsible for the digestive tract, respiration,

and heart rate functioning.

Its functions can be broken down even further into seven categories. One
of these is balancing the nervous system.

The nervous system can be divided into two areas: sympathetic and
parasympathetic. The sympathetic side increases alertness, energy, blood
pressure, heart rate, and breathing rate.

The parasympathetic side, which the vagus nerve is heavily involved in,
decreases alertness, blood pressure, and heart rate, and helps with
calmness, relaxation, and digestion. As a result, the vagus nerve also
helps with defecation, urination, and sexual arousal.

Other vagus nerve effects include:

Communication between the brain and the gut: The vagus nerve
delivers information from the gut to the brain.

Relaxation with deep breathing: The vagus nerve communicates

with the diaphragm. With deep breaths, a person feels more relaxed.

Decreasing inflammation: The vagus nerve sends an anti-

inflammatory signal to other parts of the body.

Lowering the heart rate and blood pressure: If the vagus nerve is
overactive, it can lead to the heart being unable to pump enough
blood around the body. In some cases, excessive vagus nerve
activity can cause loss of consciousness and organ damage.

Fear management: The vagus nerve sends information from the gut
to the brain, which is linked to dealing with stress, anxiety, and fear
– hence the saying, “gut feeling.” These signals help a person to
recover from stressful and scary situations.

Vagus nerve stimulation

Stimulation of the vagus nerve is a medical procedure that is used to try
to treat a variety of conditions. It can be done either manually or through
electrical pulses.

The effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation has been tested through

clinical trials. Consequently, the United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA)  has approved its use to treat two different
conditions.

Epilepsy

In 1997, the FDA allowed the use of vagus nerve stimulation for refractory
epilepsy.
This involves a small, electrical device, similar to a pacemaker, being
placed in a person’s chest. A thin wire known as a lead runs from the
device to the vagus nerve.

The device is placed in the body by surgery under general anesthetic. It

then sends electrical impulses at regular intervals, throughout the day, to
the brain via the vagus nerve to reduce the severity, or even stop,
seizures.

Vagus nerve stimulation for epilepsy may have some side effects including sore throat
and difficulty swallowing.

Side effects of vagus nerve stimulation for epilepsy include:

hoarseness or changes in voice

sore throat

shortness of breath

coughing

slow heart rate

difficulty swallowing

stomach discomfort or nausea

People using this form of treatment should always tell their doctor if they
are having any problems as there may be ways to reduce or stop these.

Mental illness

In 2005, the FDA approved the use of vagus nerve stimulation as a

treatment for depression. It has also been found to help  with the
following conditions:

rapid cycling bipolar disorder

anxiety disorders

Alzheimer’s disease
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Further research and considerations

With the vagus nerve having pathways to almost every organ in the body,
researchers are looking to see if stimulation can help other conditions.
Studies suggest that stimulation of the vagus nerve may help to reduce symptoms of
rheumatoid arthritis.

These conditions include:

rheumatoid arthritis inflammation

heart failure

inflammation from diabetes mellitus

intractable hiccups
abnormal heart rhythm

inflammation from Crohn’s disease

In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, which affects 1.3 million adults in the
U.S., a study in 2016 showed that vagus nerve stimulation could help
reduce symptoms. Individuals who had failed to respond to other
treatment reported significant improvements, while no serious adverse
side effects were noted.

This was considered a real breakthrough in how vagus nerve stimulation

might not only treat rheumatoid arthritis but other inflammatory diseases,
such as Crohn’s, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.

Last medically reviewed on June 28, 2017

Depression Epilepsy Mental Health Neurology / Neuroscience

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