SUMMARY OF

CRANIAL NERVES
Cranial nerve Nucleus name Nucleus location Function Symptom/sign of
damage

Olfactory (I) Anterior olfactory Olfactory tract Smell Anosmia

nerve

Optic (II) nerve Lateral geniculate Thalamus Vision Blindness

nucleus

Oculomotor (III) Oculomotor Midbrain Eye movement Eye deviates

nerve down & out

Edinger Westphal Midbrain (elevation, Loss of

adduction) pupillary/accom
modation
reflexes

Trochlear (IV) Trochlear Midbrain Eye movement Diplopia, lateral

nerve (depression of deviation of eye
adducted eye)
Trigeminal (V) Principal Pons Facial sensation Facial
nerve aneasthesia

Spinal Medulla Mastication Loss of pain

sensation

Mesencephalic Pons/midbrain Insignificant

Motor Pons Weakness/loss of

mastication

Abducent (VI) Abducent Pons Eye movement Medial eye

nerve (Abduction) deviation

Facial (VII) nerve Motor Pons Facial Paralysis of facial

expresssion nerve muscles (+
hyperacuisis)

Solitary Pons Taste Loss of taste

(anterior 2/3rds
of tongue)
Dry mouth, loss
Superior Pons Salivation, of lacrimation
salivatory lacrimation
Cranial Nucleus Medulla Pharynx/larynx Insignificant
Accessory (XI) ambiguus muscles
Head
Spinal accessory Spinal accessory Cervical cord Neck & shoulder turning/shoulder
movement shrugging
weakness

Hypoglossal (XII) Hypoglossal Medulla Tongue Atrophy of

movement tongue muscles,
deviation on
protrusion,
fasciculaations

Vestibulocochlea Vestibular Medulla Balance Vertigo,

r (VIII) nerve dysequilibrium,
nystagmus

Cochlear Medulla Hearing Hearing

Glossopharyngea Nucleus Medulla Taste Loss of taste
l (IX) nerve ambiguus (posterior 1/3rd of
tongue)

Inferior salivatory Medulla Salivation Insignificant

Solitary
Medulla Innervation of Loss of gag reflex
pharynx

Vagus (X) nerve Nucleus Medulla Swallowing & Dysphagia &

ambiguus talking hoarseness of
voice

Dorsal motor Medulla Cardiac, GI tract, Insignificant

vagal respiration

Taste Loss of cough

Solitary Medulla reflex
(larynx/pharynx),
loss of taste
(hard palate)
 NERVE MAIN FUNCTION(S) CRANIAL EXIT POINT PERIPHERAL
INNERVATION OF
HEAD

Olfactory (Ⅰ) Nerve Smell Cribiform plate Mucosa of naval cavity

Optic (Ⅱ) Nerve Vision Optic foramen Retina of eye

Oculomotor (Ⅲ) Eye movement Superior orbital All extraocular eye
Nerve (elevation, fissure muscles except SO &
adduction) LR

Trochlear (Ⅳ) Nerve Eye movement Superior orbital Superior oblique

(depression of fissure (extraocular eye
adducted eye) muscle)
 NERVE MAIN FUNCTION(S) CRANIAL EXIT POINT PERIPHERAL
INNERVATION OF
HEAD
Trigeminal (Ⅴ) Nerve Facial sensation V1-Superior orbital Cutaneous sensation
fissure of nose, eyes, and
scalp

Mastification Cutaneous sensation

of face: Maxilla,
nasal mucosa, upper
lip and teeth

V2-Foramen Cutaneous sensation

rotundum of lower face:
Mouth, mucosa,
lower jaw teeth, tmj
and anterior 2/3rd of
tongue

Motor supply to
muscle of
mastication

V3-Foramen ovale
 NERVE MAIN FUNCTION(S) CRANIAL EXIT POINT PERIPHERAL
INNERVATION OF
HEAD
Abducens (Ⅵ) Nerve Eye movement Superior orbital Lateral rectus
(Abduction) fissure (extraocular eye
muscle)
Facial (Ⅶ) Nerve Facial expression Entry: Internal Motor: Muscles of
acoustic meatus facial expression
and scalp.

Taste Exit: Stylomastoid Sensory: Taste from

foramen anterior 2/3rd of
tongue

Vestibulocochlear Balance Internal acoustic Inner ear labyrinth

(Ⅷ) Nerve meatus structures (semi
circular canal and
cochlear apparatus)

Hearing
 NERVE MAIN FUNCTION(S) CRANIAL EXIT POINT PERIPHERAL
INNERVATION OF
HEAD
Glossopharyngeal Taste Jugular foramen Posterior 1/3rd of
(Ⅸ) Nerve tongue

Salivation Parotid gland

Innervation of Mucosa and elevator

pharynx muscles of pharynx
Vagus (Ⅹ) Nerve Swallowing & talking Jugular foramen Palatal muscles,
pharyngcal
constrictors, vocal
cords

Taste Taste & sensation to

epiglottis
Accessory (Ⅺ) Nerve Swallowing & talking Jugular foramen Motor supply to
larynx and pharynx

Neck & shoulder Head rotation &

movement shoulder shrugging
 NERVE MAIN FUNCTION(S) CRANIAL EXIT PERIPHERAL
POINT INNERVATION OF
HEAD
Hypoglossal (Ⅻ) Tongue movement Hypoglossal canal Intrinsic & some
Nerve extrinsic tongue
muscles