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The Twelve Cranial Nerves
Names, numbers and main jobs of the cranial nerves, plus memory aids.
0 of 65 known
65 cards
- CN I: OlfactoryNerveSense of smell
- CN II: OpticNerveVision
- CN III: OculomotorNerveMost eye movements, raising the eyelid, pupil constriction
- CN IV: TrochlearNerveMoves the eye down and in (superior oblique muscle)
- CN V: TrigeminalNerveFace sensation and chewing muscles
- CN VI: AbducensNerveMoves the eye outward
- CN VII: FacialNerveFacial expression, taste from the front of the tongue, tears and saliva
- CN VIII: VestibulocochlearNerveHearing and balance
- CN IX: GlossopharyngealNerveTaste at the back of the tongue, swallowing, gag reflex
- CN X: VagusNerveHeart rate, digestion, voice box and much of the organs below the neck
- CN XI: AccessoryNerveMoves the shoulders and turns the head
- CN XII: HypoglossalNerveMoves the tongue
- Sensory cranial nervesNerveI, II and VIII are purely sensory
- Motor cranial nervesNerveIII, IV, VI, XI and XII are mainly motor
- Mixed cranial nervesNerveV, VII, IX and X carry both sensory and motor signals
- Mnemonic for namesNerveOn Old Olympus's Towering Tops, A Finn And German Viewed Some Hops
- Mnemonic for sensory/motorNerveSome Say Marry Money, But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter Most
- Which nerve smells?NerveOlfactory (I)
- Which nerve sees?NerveOptic (II)
- Which nerve hears?NerveVestibulocochlear (VIII)
- Which nerve moves the tongue?NerveHypoglossal (XII)
- Which nerve shrugs the shoulders?NerveAccessory (XI)
- Which nerve is the longest wandering one?NerveVagus (X)
- Which nerve moves the eye outward?NerveAbducens (VI)
- Which nerve feels the face?NerveTrigeminal (V)
- Which nerve smiles?NerveFacial (VII)
- Which nerves control the pupil?NerveOculomotor (III) constricts the pupil
- Trigeminal branchesNerveOphthalmic, maxillary and mandibular
- Facial nerve palsyNerveWeakness of one side of the face from damage to nerve VII
- Parasympathetic cranial nervesNerveIII, VII, IX and X carry parasympathetic fibers
- Cranial nerve countNerveTwelve pairs, arising from the brain and brainstem
- Extraocular muscle nervesNerveIII, IV and VI
- Taste nervesNerveVII, IX and X
- Swallowing nervesNerveIX and X
- Gag reflex nervesNerveIX (sensory) and X (motor)
- Where do the cranial nerves attach?NerveTo the brain or brainstem, not the spinal cord
- Cribriform plateNerveSkull part the olfactory nerve fibers pass through
- Optic chiasmNerveWhere optic nerves cross partly on the way to the brain
- Superior orbital fissureNerveOpening where nerves III, IV, VI and part of V enter the eye socket
- Foramen magnumNerveOpening where the spinal cord exits the skull, and nerve XI enters
- Jugular foramenNerveOpening that nerves IX, X and XI pass through
- Corneal reflexNerveBlink when the cornea is touched; uses nerves V and VII
- Pupillary light reflexNervePupil narrows in bright light; uses nerves II and III
- Vestibulo-ocular reflexNerveEyes stay steady when the head moves; uses nerve VIII
- Bell's palsyNerveSudden weakness of the facial muscles on one side
- Trigeminal neuralgiaNerveSevere sharp facial pain linked to nerve V
- AnosmiaNerveLoss of the sense of smell
- DysphagiaNerveDifficulty swallowing
- DiplopiaNerveDouble vision
- PtosisNerveDrooping of the upper eyelid
- TinnitusNerveRinging in the ears
- VertigoNerveA sense that the world is spinning
- NystagmusNerveInvoluntary rhythmic eye movement
- StrabismusNerveMisaligned eyes
- Lacrimal glandNerveMakes tears; controlled by nerve VII
- Parotid glandNerveLargest salivary gland; controlled by nerve IX
- Sternocleidomastoid and trapeziusNerveMuscles supplied by nerve XI
- Muscles of masticationNerveChewing muscles supplied by nerve V
- Muscles of facial expressionNerveSupplied by nerve VII
- Intrinsic tongue musclesNerveSupplied by nerve XII
- Carotid body sensorsNerveSensory input via nerve IX monitoring blood oxygen
- Vestibular branchNervePart of nerve VIII for balance
- Cochlear branchNervePart of nerve VIII for hearing
- Cranial nerve examNerveClinical test checking each of the twelve nerves
- Cranial nerves vs. spinal nervesNerveTwelve pairs from the brain versus 31 pairs from the spinal cord
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