List of cranial nerves

Number Name Sensory, motor, Origin or both Nuclei Function

Olfactory

Purely sensory

Telencephalon

Transmits the sense of smell from the nasal Anterior olfactory cavity.[1] Located in nucleus olfactory foramina in the cribriform plate of ethmoid. [Lateral geniculate nucleus][2] Transmits visual signals from the retina of the eye to the brain. [3] Located in the optic canal.

II

Optic

Purely sensory

Diencephalon

III

Oculomotor

Mainly motor

Anterior aspect of Midbrain

Innervates the levator palpebrae superioris, superior rectus, medial rectus, inferior rectus, and inferior oblique, which collectively Oculomotor perform most eye nucleus, Edingermovements. Also Westphal nucleus innervates the sphincter pupillae and the muscles of the ciliary body. Located in the superior orbital fissure. Innervates the superior oblique muscle, which depresses, rotates Trochlear nucleus laterally, and intorts the eyeball. Located in the superior orbital fissure. Receives sensation from the face and Principal sensory innervates the muscles trigeminal of mastication. nucleus, Spinal Located in the superior trigeminal orbital fissure nucleus, (ophthalmic nerve Mesencephalic V1), foramen trigeminal rotundum (maxillary nucleus, nerve - V2), and Trigeminal motor foramen ovale nucleus (mandibular nerve V3). Innervates the lateral rectus, which abducts the eye. Located in the superior orbital fissure.

IV

Trochlear

Mainly motor

Dorsal aspect of Midbrain

Trigeminal

Both sensory and motor

Pons

VI

Abducens

Mainly motor

Nuclei lying under the floor of Abducens nucleus the fourth ventricle Pons

VII

Facial

Both sensory and motor

Provides motor innervation to the muscles of facial expression, posterior belly of the digastric muscle, and stapedius muscle. Also receives the special sense of taste from the anterior Pons Facial nucleus, 2/3 of the tongue and (cerebellopontine Solitary nucleus, provides secretomotor angle) above Superior salivary innervation to the olive nucleus salivary 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. Senses sound, rotation, and gravity (essential for balance and movement). More Lateral to CN specifically, the VII Vestibular nuclei, vestibular branch (cerebellopontine Cochlear nuclei carries impulses for angle) equilibrium and the cochlear branch carries impulses for hearing. Located in the internal acoustic canal. Receives taste from the posterior 1/3 of the tongue, provides secretomotor innervation to the parotid gland, and provides motor innervation to the stylopharyngeus. Some sensation is also relayed to the brain from the palatine tonsils. Located in the jugular foramen.

VIII

Acoustic or Vestibulocochlear Mostly (or auditorysensory vestibular nerve or acoustic nerve)

IX

Glossopharyngeal

Both sensory and motor

Medulla

Nucleus ambiguus, Inferior salivary nucleus, Solitary nucleus

Vagus

Both sensory and motor

Posterolateral sulcus of Medulla

Supplies branchiomotor innervation to most Nucleus laryngeal and ambiguus, Dorsal pharyngeal muscles motor vagal (except the nucleus, Solitary stylopharyngeus, nucleus which is innervated by the glossopharyngeal). Also provides

parasympathetic fibers to nearly all thoracic and abdominal viscera down to the splenic flexure. Receives the special sense of taste from the epiglottis. A major function: controls muscles for voice and resonance and the soft palate. Symptoms of damage: dysphagia (swallowing problems), velopharyngeal insufficiency. Located in the jugular foramen. Controls the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles, and overlaps with Nucleus functions of the vagus ambiguus, Spinal nerve (CN X). accessory nucleus Symptoms of damage: inability to shrug, weak head movement. Located in the jugular foramen. 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.

XI

Accessory or spinal-acccessory (or cranial Mainly accessory nerve or motor spinal accessory nerve)

Cranial and Spinal Roots

XII

Hypoglossal

Mainly motor

Medulla

Hypoglossal nucleus