Dexmo

Cranial Nerves

Cranial Nerves emerge from the brain, they may be sensory, motor or mixed (both sensory & motor) nerves. There are 12 in total and usually referred to using roman numerals. Below is a brief description of each:

Cranial Nerve I, OLFACTORY (Sensory):
Carries sense of smell from the nasal mucosa to the olfactory bulb.

Cranial Nerve II, OPTIC (Sensory):
Carries the sense of sight from the eyes to the optic chasims.

Cranial Nerve III, OCULOMOTOR (Motor):
Supplies motor innervation to some extrinsic muscles of the eyes.

Cranial Nerve IV, TROCHLEAR (Motor):
Supplies motor innervation to some extrinsic muscles of the eyes.

Cranial Nerve V, TRIGEMINAL (Mixed):
Supplies motor innervation to the muscles of mastication. Sensory information from the teeth and skin around the eye & face.

Cranial Nerve VI, ABDUCENT (Motor):
Supplies motor innervation to some extrinsic muscles of the eyes.

Cranial Nerve VII, FACIAL (Motor):
Supplies motor innervation to the muscles of facial expression.

Cranial Nerve VIII, VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR (Sensory):
Carries information about balance and hearing from semicircular canals/ cochlea.

Cranial Nerve IX, GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL (Mixed):
Supplies motor innervation to the muscles of the pharynx. Sensory information from taste buds (gustation).

Cranial Nerve X, VAGUS (Mixed):
Sensory information from the pharynx & larynx. Supplies motor innervation to muscles of the larynx, heart, smooth muscle and glands (parasympathetic supply).

Cranial Nerve XI, ACCESSORY (Motor):
Supplies motor innervation to the neck and shoulder region.

Cranial Nerve XII, HYPOGLOSSAL (Motor):
Supplies motor innervation to the muscles of the tongue.

[This is only a brief description of each nerves major functions.]

There are many rhymes to help remember the Cranial Nerves using the first letter of each. Here’s a clean one:
Oh Oh Oh To Touch A Friends Vicious Goat  ...Velvety And Hairy!