CRANIAL NERVES - SCHEMATIC SUMMARIES

OLFACTORY & OPTIC NERVES

KEY: Special sensory

Olfactory
nerves (I)

Cribriform
plate

Optic
nerves (II)

Optic
canal

Olfactory
mucosa
(smell)

Retina
(sight)

OCULOMOTOR NERVE
KEY:

Motor

Parasymp.

Internal carotid
plexus

Symp.

Levator palpebrae superioris

(raise eyelid)
Superior rectus (look up/medially)

Oculomotor
nerve (III)

Superior
orbital
fissure

Medial rectus (look medially)

Inferior rectus (look down/medially)
Inferior oblique (look up/laterally)

Ciliary
ganglion
Internal
carotid plexus

Short
ciliary
nerves

Ciliary muscle
(lens rounder)
Sphincter pupillae
(constrict pupil)

Dilator pupillae (dilate pupil)

TROCHLEAR & ABDUCENS NERVES

KEY:

Motor

Trochlear
nerve (IV)

Superior
orbital
fissure

Superior oblique
(look down/laterally)

Abducens
nerve (VI)

Superior
orbital
fissure

Lateral rectus
(look laterally)

TRIGEMINAL NERVE
KEY:

Gen. sensory

Motor

Branches to: skin of forehead & scalp, upper eyelid, nose, cornea;
mucosa of nasal cavities, sinuses
Superior orbital fissure
Ophthalmic nerve (V1)
Trigeminal
nerve (V)

Trigeminal
ganglion
Mandibular nerve (V3)
Foramen ovale

Branches to: skin of lower eyelid to upper

lip, temple;
mucosa of nasal cavities, max. sinus, palate,
(nasopharynx), max. teeth & gums;
Carries: parasymp. to lacrimal gland
Maxillary
nerve (V2)

Foramen rotundum to
sphenopalatine fossa

Branches to: muscles of mastication;

tensor palati, tensor tympani

Branches to: skin of chin, lower lip, cheek, ear, temple, scalp;
mucosa of cheek, floor of mouth, ant. 2/3 tongue;
mand. teeth & gums
Carries: taste to ant. 2/3 tongue; parasymp to salivary glands

FACIAL NERVE
KEY:

Motor

Parasymp.

Taste

Sphenopalatine
ganglion

Lacrimal, nasal & palatine

glands (via V2 branches)

To sphenopalatine fossa
Greater petrosal nerve
Facial
nerve
(VII)

Internal
auditory
meatus to
facial canal

Tympanic cavity to
infratemporal fossa

Geniculate
ganglion
(sensory)

Join lingual n. (V3)

Submandibular
ganglion
Submandibular &
sublingual glands

N. to stapedius

Chorda
tympani

Ant. 2/3 tongue

(taste)

Stylomastoid
foramen

External auditory meatus,

eardrum

Muscles of facial
expression

VESTIBULOCOCHLAR NERVE
KEY: Special sensory
Cochlea
(hearing)

Cochlear n.
Vestibulocochlear
nerve (VIII)

Internal
auditory
meatus
Vestibular n.
Saccule, utricle,
semicircular canals
(balance)

GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL NERVE
KEY:

Motor

Gen. sensory

Parasymp.

Special sensory

Mucosa of oropharynx
Pharyngeal n. to
pharyngeal plexus
Stylopharyngeus
Glossopharyngeal
nerve (IX)

Post. 1/3
of tongue

Jugular
foramen
Tympanic n.
to middle ear

Branches to mucosa
of tympanic cavity,
mastoid antrum

to carotid body
& carotid sinus

Tympanic plexus
Lesser petrosal n.
to cranial cavity

Otic
ganglion

Foramen ovale to
infratemporal fossa

Parotid gland
via V3 branch

VAGUS & ACCESSORY NERVES

KEY:

Motor

Gen. sensory

Parasymp.

Constrictor and palatine muscles (not tensor palati)

Pharyngeal n. to
pharyngeal plexus
Vagus
nerve (X)
Accessory
nerve (XI)

Thoracic &
abdominal
organs

Jugular
foramen
Recurrent
laryngeal n.

Sternocleidomastoid,
trapezius

Laryngopharynx
& larynx (below
vocal cords)

Superior
laryngeal n.
External
laryngeal n.

Inf. constrictor & cricothyroid

Internal
laryngeal n.

Inf. constrictor,
laryngeal muscles
(not cricothyroid)

Laryngopharynx & larynx

(above vocal cords)

HYPOGLOSSAL NERVE

KEY:

Motor

All muscles of
tongue (not
palatoglossus)

Hypoglossal
canal

Hypoglossal
nerve (XII)
C1 fibres

To ansa cervicalis,
thyrohyoid, geniohyoid