Cranial Nerve

Exits

Function

Lesions

Test

CN 1
Olfactory

Cribiform plate

Smell

Cribiform plate fracture

Kallman synd GnRH =
hypogonadism & lack of smell

Smell something
(eg orange peel)

CN 2 Optic N

Optic canal

Sight

CN 3
Oculomotor

Superior orbital
fissure

Parasympathetic ciliary, sphincter muslces

Innervates extraocular muscles

Transtentorial/uncal herniation
Diabetes
Weber syndrome form of
stroke, presence of CN 3 palsy
and contralateral hemiparesis

CN 4
Trochlear
CN 5
Trigeminal

Superior orbital
fissure
VI) Sup orbital
fissure
V2) Foramen
rotundum
V3) Foramen
Ovale

Innervates superior oblique muscle

Head trauma

H in space

V1) medial nose and forehead sensory

V2) Sensory of lateral nose, upper lip, superior
buccal area
V3) Muscles of mastication and sensory of lower
lip, lateral face, lower border of mandible.
Lateral pterygoid opens jaw; temporalis,
masseter, and medial pterygoid close jaw
Lateral rectus innervation

Trigeminal Neuralgia

Facial sensation

Jaw opening for V3 will show

deviation to the side of the
lesion

Jaw opening

Medial inferior pontine

syndrome: Contralateral
hemiparesis, contralateral loss
of tactile and vibration
sensation, loss of CN 6
function
Bells Palsy unilateral facial
muscle paralysis that affects
the forehead (strokes usually
spare the forehead)
[Branches: Temporal,
Zygomatic, Buccal,
Mandibular, Cervical]
Acoustic Schwannoma
vertigo, nystagmus,
nausea/vomiting
Posterior inferior cerebellar
artery infarct = PICA infarct

H test

CN 6
Abducens

Superior Orbital
Fissure

CN 7 Facial

Internal
acoustic meatus
and runs
through parotid
gland

Parasympathetic: Lacrimal, submandibular, and

sublingual glands
Muscles of facial expression (stapedius,
stylohyoid, posterior belly of digastric), taste to
anterior 2/3 of tongue

CN 8
vestibulocochle
ar
CN 9
Glossopharyng
eal

Internal
acoustic meatus

Equilibrium and hearing

Jugular Foramen

Parasympathetic: Parotid gland,

stylopharyngeus muscle
Sensory: pharynx, middle ear, auditory tube,
carotid body and sinus, external ear, posterior
1/3 of tongue

Snellen eye chart

Peripheral vision
H in space
Pupillary light
reflexes
Convergence test

Wrinkle forehead,
show teeth, puff out
cheeks, tightly close
eyes, say me me
me

Hearing and
Nystagmus
Gag reflex

CN 10 Vagus

Jugular foramen

CN 11 Spinal
acc.
CN 12
hypoglossal

Jugular Foramen
Hypoglossal
canal

Parasympathetic: Body viscera, laryngeal,

pharyngeal muscles
Sensory: trachea, esophagus, viscera, external
ear, epiglottis
SCM and trapezius muscle innervation

Injury from thyroidectomy

PICA infarct

Gag reflex
Elevate palate, say
AH

PICA infarct

Intrinsic tongue muscle innervation

Anterior spinal artery infarct

Tongue deviates to the side of
the lesion licking your
wounds

Turn head/
shoulder
Tongue protrusion
Say la la la