GUIDE TO THE
CRANIAL NERVES
Forrest Monroe
and Michael Carry, PhD
University of Colorado
School of Medicine
2009
Updated by Mike Pascoe, PhD Fall 2011
Key
Sensory
Motor
Preganglionic Paraympathetic
Postganglionic Paraympathetic
Postganglionic Sympathetic
Olfactory Nerve (I)
Olfactory Bulb
Olfactory Tract
To medial temporal lobe
Cribriform Plate
Olfactory Nerves (I)
Mucosa
Nasal Cavity
Layer of
Mucus
Sagittal section through ethmoid bone
Optic Nerve (II)
Anterior
Retina
Retina
Optic
Canals
Optic
Nerves (II)
Optic
Chiasma
Optic
Tracts
Note: Red and blue here denote
left/right visual fields. All are
special sensory (vision) only.
Lateral Geniculate
Nuclei
Posterior
Superior view of cranium
Oculomotor Nerve (III)
Midbrain
Superior Orbital
Fissure
S
rR
rio
e
up
Oculomotor
Nucleus
Oculomotor
Nerve (III)
us
am
Ciliary
Ganglion
Infe
rior
Edinger-Westphal
Nucleus
Ram
us
iris
unaccommodated, flat lens, distant vision
zonule fibers contracted when ciliary muscle relaxes
pupil
sympathetic - dilation
parasympathetic - constriction
Levator Palpebrae Superioris
Superior Rectus
lens
accommodated, thick lens, near vision
zonule fibers relaxed when ciliary muscle contracts
(CNV - Short
Ciliary)
Medial Rectus
Inferior Rectus
Inferior Oblique
Ciliary Body (Accommodation)
Iris (Constriction)
Trochlear Nerve (IV)
Midline
trochlea
Midbrain
Troc
h
Ner lear
ve (
IV )
Superior Orbital
Fissure
Trochlear
Nucleus
Superior Oblique
Superior view of left eye
Trigeminal Nerve (V1)
Opthalmic Branch
medial
lateral
Posterior
Ethmoidal
Posterior
Ethmoidal
Foramen
Cornea
gC
ilia
ry
Anterior
Ethmoidal
ry
Anterior
Ethmoidal
Foramen
Short Cilia
Internal
Nasal
Infratrochlear
External
Nasal
Supratrochlear
Supraorbital
Ciliary
Ganglion
Trige
Opth minal ( V
almic )
Bran
ch
ia
cil
Superior
Orbital
Fissure
Na
so
Trigeminal
Ganglion
ry
Lo
n
Pons
l
nta
Fro
l
Lacrima
Superior view of right orbit
Supraorbital
Foramen
Trigeminal Nerve (V2) - Maxillary Branch
posterior
Pons
anterior
Trigeminal
Ganglion
(skin of cheek bone)
Zygomatic
Inferior Orbital
Fissure
Foramen
Rotundum
Infraorbital
Foramen
Infraorbital Groove/Canal
Infraorbital
(Maxillary
Sinus Mucosa)
Pterygopalatine
Ganglion
Trigeminal (V)
Maxillary Branch
Anterior Superior Alveolar (canine, incisors)
Medial Superior Alveolar (pre-molars)
Palatovaginal
Canal
Pterygomaxillary
Fissure (lateral coming toward you)
l
gea
ryn x)
Pha opharyn
Posterior Superior Alveolar (molars)
(nas
Lateral view of right
pterygopalatine fossa
Sphenopalatine
Foramen
Lesser Palatine
Foramen
Greater Palatine
Foramen
latine
Lesser Pa incl. taste)
Greater
e,
(soft palat
(hard pal
Na
so
pal
Lateral Posterior Superior Nasal
Medial Posterior Superior Nasal
atin
e
Incisive
Fossa
Palatine
ate, incl.
ta
ste)
Trigeminal Nerve (V3) - Mandibular Branch
posterior
Pons
anterior
Meningeal Branch
Trigeminal
Ganglion
Foramen
Spinosum
Trigeminal
Motor Nucleus
Foramen
Ovale
Deep Temporal (temporalis)
Masseteric
Trigeminal (V)
Mandibular Branch
Lateral Pterygoid
Medial Pterygoid (tensor palatini, tensor tympani)
Auriculotemporal
Long Buccal (skin/mucosa of cheek, gingiva)
(skin of parotid gland)
Lingual (mucosa of ant. 2/3 tongue, incl. taste)
Inferior
Alveolar
Middle
Meningial A.
Mandibular
Foramen
Incisive
Lateral view of skull
Nerve to the Mylohyoid
(ant digastric)
Mental
Mental
Foramen
(skin, mucosa
of lower lip)
Abducens Nerve (VI)
abducts the eye
Pons
Superior Orbital
Fissure
Lateral Rectus
Abducens
Nerve (VI)
optic
nerve
Abducens Nucleus
Superior view of left eye
Lacrimal
Gland
Facial Nerve (VII)
Lacrimal N.
Zygomatic N.
Hiatus of Greater
Petrosal N.
Facial Motor
Nucleus
Superior
Salivatory
Nucleus
( Ta
(incl. Taste)
ni )
pa gue
ym ton
a T /3 of
ord nt 2
Ch ste - a
Facial (VII)
Nerve of the
Pterygoid Canal
e
Pons
Pterygopalatine
Ganglion
N. to the
Stapedius
*
Lesser
Palatine
(Taste)
N. to the Stylohyoid
Temporal
Zygomatic
Buccal
Marginal Mandibular
Cervical
*Travels w/ Trigeminal
Maxillary Branch to mucosa
of hardpalate and nasal
cavity; except to skin and
dental pulp
Greater
Palatine
(Taste)
Petrotympanic
Fissure
Lingual
N. to the Posterior Digastric
*
Pte
Fos rygo
sa pal
ati
n
Geniculate
Ganglion
G
Pe reat
tro er
sa
l
Internal Auditory
Meatus
Pterygoid Canal
Stylomastoid
Foramen
(tongue/taste)
Sublingual Gland
Submandibular
Gland
Submandibular
Ganglion
(Note: Vestibulocochlear diagram not included by Dr. Carry - VIII has hearing axons only)
Glossopharyngeal Nerve (IX)
Hiatus for the
Lesser Petrosal
Foramen Ovale
Medulla
so(IX)
Glos yngeal
r
a
)
ph l. Taste
Jugular
Foramen
sal
er P
etro
Superior
Ganglion
Inferior
Ganglion
Tympanic
Canaliculus
Tympanic
N. to the Stylopharyngeus
Otic
Ganglion
w/ Auriculotemporal
Ca
ro
tid
Nucleus
Ambiguus
Hanging from
mandibular br
of CNV
(inc
Les
s
Inferior
Salivatory
Nucleus
(middle ear)
Parotid
Gland
Lingual [branch of glossopharyngeal]
(Taste - Post. 1/3 of Tongue)
Carotid A.
carotid body
Tonsilar (tonsilar bed)
Pharyngeal (gag reflex)
Vagus Nerve (X)
Medulla
Dorsal
Motor
Nucleus
Jugular
Foramen
s (X)
VaguTaste)
(incl.
Superior
Ganglion
Pharyngeal Plexus
Muscles of Palate/Pharynx
Inferior
Ganglion
Nucleus
Ambiguus
Auricular
ro
Ca
tid
(except tensor palatini, stylopharyngeus)
r
Pha
eal
yng
Superior Laryngeal
(incl. Taste)
Internal
Laryngeal
(incl. Taste)
Sensory and Taste:
Epiglottis to Vocal folds
External Laryngeal
Cricothyroid, Inferior Constrictors
Recurren
t Laryng
eal
From Vocal folds to Trachea,
Larynx except Cricothyroid & Inf Constrictors
Vagal Tru
n
k
Sensory to Left
Colic Flexure
Spinal Accessory Nerve (XI)
Spinal Accessory (XI)
Foramen
Magnum
Jugular
Foramen
Sterocleidomastoid
Trapezius
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
Hypoglossal Nerve (XII)
Medulla
Hypoglossal
Canal
Hypoglossal
Nerve (XII)
Genioglossus
Hyoglossus
Styloglossus
Intrinsic Muscles of Tongue
Hypoglossal
Nucleus
emerging between
pyramid/olive
*damage to right hypoglossal nerve
results in deviation of tongue to the right
Bonus Content!
Cranial Nerves Mnemonics:
(G-rated) On Old Olympus’ Towering Tops A Famous Vocal German Viewed Some Hops
(X-rated) Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel Virgin Girls Vaginas And Hymens
Some Say Marry Money, But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter More
(S=Sensory, M=Motor, B=Both) Substitute “Boobs” for “Brains” for dirty version
Bony Landmarks/Exit Points
C O S3 R O S I2 J3 H
Cribriform Plate - I
Optic Canal - II
Superior Orbital Fissure - III, IV, V 1
Rotundum (Foramen) - V 2
Ovale (Foramen) - V 3
Superior Orbital Fissure - VI
Internal Acoustic Meatus - VII, VIII
Jugular Foramen - IX, X, XI
Hypoglossal Canal - XII