Cranial Nerves + Functions

Question 1

CN I

Answer 1

Olfactory Nerve

• Special Sense
• Afferent from nasal mucosa: carries information related to smell

Question 2

CN II

Answer 2

Optic Nerve

• Special Sense
• Afferent for vision: from the retina

Question 3

CN III

Answer 3

Oculomotor Nerve

• Somatic division: controls movements of the eye and some control of eyelid
• Autonomic division: is motor to pupil constrictors

Question 4

CN IV

Answer 4

Trochlear

-Somatic: motor to one muscle that moves the eye

Question 5

CN V

Answer 5

Trigeminal

• Somatic: afferent from surface of the face- senses touch from skin of face + cornea (dermatomes of the face)
• Motor efferent: to muscles of mastication (myotomes)

Question 6

CN VI

Answer 6

Abducens

-Somatic: motor efferent to one muscle of the eye

Question 7

CN VII

Answer 7

Facial Nerve

• Special sense: taste from anterior tongue + palate
• Somatic division: motor to efferent to muscles of facial expression (myotomes)
• Autonomic division: motor efferent to glands that secrete saliva

Question 8

CN VIII

Answer 8

Vestibulocochlear Nerve

• Special sense: hearing from cochlea of ear
• Balance from vestibular apparatus of ear

Question 9

CN IX

Answer 9

Glossopharyngeal Nerve

• Special sense: taste from posterior tongue
• Somatic division: motor efferent to help with swallowing- afferent sensation from external ear
• Autonomic division: secretomotor to one saliva gland (parotid)- afferent sensation from carotid body + sinus

Question 10

CN X

Answer 10

Vagus Nerve

• Somatic division: motor to muscles of pharynx, larynx + palate
• Autonomic division: parasympathetic innervation of smooth muscle in trachea, bronchi, GI tract + cardiac muscle
• Afferent sensation from GI tract, heart + airways

Question 11

CN XI

Answer 11

Accessory Nerve

-Somatic: motor to soft palate pharynx + two big muscles of the neck

Question 12

CN XII

Answer 12

Hypoglossal Nerve

-Somatic: motor to the muscles of the tongue