List of cranial nerves

Sensor y, Motor, Origin or Both

Num Name ber

Nuclei

Function

Olfactory

Transmits the sense of Purely smell from the nasal cavity. Telencephalo Anterior olfactory [1] Sensor Located in olfactory n nucleus y foramina in the cribriform plate of ethmoid.

II

Optic

Transmits visual signals Purely Diencephalo Ganglion cells of from the retina of the eye Sensor n retina[2] to the brain.[3] Located in y the optic canal.

III

Oculomotor

Anterior Mainly aspect Motor of midbrain

Innervates the levator palpebrae superioris, superior rectus, medial rectus, inferior rectus, Oculomotor and inferior oblique, which nucleus,Edinger- collectively perform most Westphal nucleus eye movements. Also innervates the sphincter pupillae and the muscles of the ciliary body. Located in the superior orbital fissure.

IV

Trochlear

Dorsal Mainly aspect of Motor midbrain

Innervates the superior oblique muscle, which depresses, rotates Trochlear nucleus laterally, and intorts the eyeball. Located in thesuperior orbital fissure.

Trigeminal

Both Sensor Pons y and Motor

Principal sensory trigeminal nucleus, Spinal trigeminal nucleus,Mesence phalic trigeminal nucleus, Trigemin al motor nucleus

Receives sensation from the face and innervates the muscles of mastication. Located in the superior orbital fissure (ophthalmic nerve - V1), foramen rotundum (maxillary nerve - V2), and foramen ovale (mandibular nerve V3).

VI

Abducens

Anterior Mainly margin of Motor pons

Abducens nucleus

Innervates the lateral rectus, which abducts the eye. Located in the superior orbital fissure.

VII

Facial

Provides motor innervation to the muscles of facial expression, posterior belly of the digastric muscle, andstapedius muscle. Also receives the special sense of taste from the anterior Both Pons Facial 2/3 of the tongue and Sensor (cerebellopo nucleus, Solitary providessecretomotor inne y and ntine angle) nucleus, Superior rvation to the salivary Motor above olive salivary nucleus glands (except parotid) and the lacrimal gland. Located in and runs through the internal acoustic canal to the facial canal and exits at the stylomastoid foramen.

VIII

Acoustic Mostly Lateral to CN Vestibular orVestibulocochlear(or sensor VII nuclei,Cochlear auditory-vestibular y (cerebellopo nuclei nerveor acoustic nerve) ntine angle)

Senses sound, rotation, and gravity (essential for balance and movement). More specifically, the vestibular branch carries impulses for equilibrium and the cochlear branch

carries impulses for hearing. Located in theinternal acoustic canal.

IX

Glossopharyngeal

Both Sensor Medulla y and Motor

Receives taste from the posterior 1/3 of the tongue, provides secretomotor innervation to the parotid Nucleus gland, and provides motor ambiguus, Inferior innervation to salivary the stylopharyngeus. nucleus, Solitary Some sensation is also nucleus relayed to the brain from the palatine tonsils. Located in the jugular foramen.

Vagus

Supplies branchiomotor in nervation to most laryngeal and pharyngeal muscles (except the stylopharyngeus, which is innervated by the glossopharyngeal). Also provides parasympathetic f ibers to nearly all thoracic Nucleus and abdominal viscera Both Posterolatera ambiguus, Dorsal down to the splenic Sensor l sulcus of motor vagal flexure. Receives the y and medulla nucleus,Solitary special sense of taste from Motor nucleus the epiglottis. A major function: controls muscles for voice and resonance and the soft palate. Symptoms of damage: dysphagia(swallo wing problems), velopharyngeal insufficiency. Located in the jugular foramen.

XI

Accessory (orcranial accessory nerve or spinal accessory nerve)

Controls the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles, and Nucleus overlaps with functions of Mainly Cranial and ambiguus, Spinal the vagus nerve (CN X). Motor Spinal Roots accessory Symptoms of damage: nucleus inability to shrug, weak head movement. Located in the jugular foramen.

XII

Hypoglossal

Mainly Medulla Motor

Hypoglossal nucleus

Provides motor innervation to the muscles of the tongue (except for the palatoglossus, which is innervated by the vagus nerve) and other glossal muscles. Important for swallowing (bolus formation) and speech articulation. Located in the hypoglossal canal.