Nerve/Origin
Olfactory (I)
(telencephalon)
Optic (II)
(diencephalon)
Oculomotor (III)
(midbrain)
Trochlear (IV)
(midbrain)
Abducens (VI)
(Pons)
Route
Branches
Axons of bipolar neurons
form olfactory nerves which
go thru cribiform plate of
ethmoid bone and end in the
olfactory bulb
Through optic canal runs with
ophthalmic artery
Through lateral wall of
Superior Division
cavernous sinus enters orbit
via superior orbital fissure
Inferior Division
Through lateral wall of
cavernous sinus and into
orbit thru superior orbital
fissure
Through the cavernous sinus
with internal carotid artery
and enters orbit via superior
orbital fissure
Sensory
Smell
Motor
Parasympathetics
Sight
Levator Palpebrae
Superioris and
Superior Rectus
Medial and Inferior
Rectus, Inferior
Oblique
Superior Oblique
Muscle
Lateral Rectus
Branch from inferior division via
parasympathetic (motor) root of the
ciliary ganglion enter ciliary galnglion 
postganglionics to the ciliary muscle and
spincter of pupil via short ciliary nerves
Facial (VII)
(Pons)
Second Branchial
Arch
Through internal acoustic
meatus with
vestibulocochlear nerve, into
facial canal and goes laterally
through petrous portion of
temporal bone until middle
ear (tympanic cavity). Then it
turns backward “genu” at
location of geniculate
ganglion (sensory cell
bodies). When reaches
posterior wall of middle ear,
it turns downward and exits
via stylomastiod foramen
Facial Proper:
Branch to stapedius in
facial canal, after exits
stylomastoid foramen
branches to posterior
auricular and post
belly
digastrics/stylohyoid,
then in parotid gland
gives off temporal,
zygomatic, buccal,
mandibular, and
cervical branches
Through facial canal,
exits stylohyoid
foramen and enters
substance of parotid
gland
Nervus Intermedius:
Greater petrosal
nerve Exits at level of
geniculate ganglion,
hiatus of greater
petrosal nerve, 
foramen lacerum, 
ptergyoid canal (+
deep petrosal nerve)
 Pterygopalatie
ganglion/fossa
Nervus Intermedius:
Chorda Tympani facial
canal  tympanic
cavity just before
stylomastoid foramen,
 inner surface of
tympanic membrane
(over malleolus) 
pterygotympanic
fissure 
infratemporal fossa
Taste to hard
and soft palates
via greater and
lesser palatine
nerves (V2)
Preganglionics synapse in
Pterygopalatine ganglion (hanging from
V2) and send postanglionic
parasympathetics through the following
nerves:
1) Greater/lesser palatine
2) Posterior Nasal
3) Nasopalatine
4) Zygomatic – takes to lacrimal
gland via lacrimal nerve (V1)
With lingual
nerve, Taste to
anterior 2/3 of
tongue
Preganglionics travel with lingual nerve
to the submandibular ganglion, where
they synapse and follow the lingual
nerve to
1) Submandibular gland
2) Sublingual gland
3) Linugal gland
Vestibulocochlea
r (VIII)
(Pons)
Glossopharygnea
l
(IX)
(Medulla
Oblongata)
Third Branchial
Arch
Enters internal acoustic
meatus with the facial nerve
Vestibular
Cochlear
Balance
Hearing
Tympanic
Sensory to the
tympanic cavity
(pain from the
middle ear can
be referred
from or to the
tonsils)
Emerges from post-olivary
sulcus, gains sensory fibers
from petrous and superior
ganglia, exit the jugular
foramen
Enters tympanic cavity,
tympanic plexus, hiatus of
the lesser petrosal nerve,
foramen ovale, infratemporal
fossa, auriculotemporal
nerve (V3), and facial nerve
Contains:
1) postganglionic
sympathetic fibers
(superior cervical
ganglion)
2) Twig of facial nerve
3) Sensory
4)Preganglionic
Parasympathetics
Carotid
Sensory from
baroreceoptors/
chemoreceptors
from the carotid
sinus/body
Motor
Pharyngeal
Lingual
Parasympathetics travel through the
tympanic plexus and reconverge as the
lesser petrosal nerve. This descends
through hiatus of lesser petrosal nerve
and exits skull via foramen ovale
infratemporal fossa. Here, the
preganglionic parasympathetics synapse
in otic ganglion. Postganglionic fibers
then run with auriculotemporal and
facial nerves to the parotid gland
To the
stylopharyngeus
muscle
Sensory to
mucosa of
pharynx and
palatine tonsils
To posterior 1/3
of the tongue
Vagus (X)
(Medulla
Oblongata)
4-6th Branchial
Arches
Exits via post-olivary sulcus
and descends to jugular
foramen, where it receives
sensory fibers from the
superior and inferior ganglia.
Exits via jugular foramen.
Meningeal Branch
Auricular Branch
Carotid Branch
Aortic Branch
Pharyngeal
Superior Laryngeal
A) Internal
Pierces thyrohyoid
membrane, with
superior laryngeal
artery
B) Exterior
Runs with superior
thyroid a.
Recurrent Laryngeal
Sensory to the
dura mater
External
acoustic meatus
to the tympanic
membrane
Sensory from
baroreceoptors/
chemoreceptors
from the carotid
sinus/body
Sensory from
baroreceoptors/
chemoreceptors
from the aortic
arch/body
Sensory to the
Pharynx.
Motor to the muscles
of the pharynx (except
stylopharyngeus IX)
and palate (except
tensor of the palate
(V3)
Larynx  vocal
cords, and Taste
to epiglottis and
valleculae of the
tongue
Sensory of
larynx below
vocal cords
Cricothyroid muscle
and cricopharyngeus
portion (internal
constrictor
All muscles of larynx
(except cricothyroid)
Branches below the
Laryngeal Nerves
Accessory (XI)
(Medulla
Oblongata)
Branchial arches
beyond 6
Hypoglossal (XII)
Medulla
Oblongata
Carry preganglionic parasympathetics to
the thoracic viscera and abdominal
organs (fore- and midgut
Ascends from C3-C4 between
dorsal and ventral rootlets,
enters foramen magnum,
exits skull via jugular foramen
Sternocleidomastoid
and Trapezius
Emerges from pre-olivary
sulcus in line with ventral
roots of spinal nerves. Leaves
skull by hypoglossal canal 
tongue
All intrinsic and
extrinsic muscles of
tongue (except
palatoglossus 
vagus)
Other Notes:
Cell bodies of general sensory neurons (pseudounipolar) are in ganglia of: Trigeminal (V), Facial (VII), Glossopharyngeal (IX), and Vagus (X)
Taste neurons (pseudounipolar) are located in the ganglia of: Facial (VII), Glossopharyngeal (IX), and Vagus (X)
Nerves 9-11 (IX-XI) exit the jugular foramen!!
Branchiomeric Cranial Nerves (carry special visceral efferent/ branchial motor fibers):
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Trigeminal – Branchial Arch 1
Facial – Branchial Arch 2
Glossopharyngeal – Branchial Arch 3
Vagus – Branchial Arch 4-6
Accessory – Theoretical arches beyond 6
Trigeminal Nerve – First Branchial Arch
Division
Opthalmic
Division (V1)
Through lateral
wall of cavernous
sinus and
supraorbital
fissure
Branches
Frontal
Lacrimal
Further Branches
Supratrochlear
Supraorbital
(larger and more
lateral)
----------------------
Nasociliary
Long Ciliary
Thru lateral wall
of cavernous
sinus and through
foramen
rotundum to the
ptergyopalatine
fossa
Sensory
To scalp and upper eyelid, to
vertex of scalp
Above lateral rectus
To lacrimal gland and upper
eyelid
Sensory fibers to cornea
Posterior
Ethmoidal
Thru posterior ethmoidal
foramen
Posterior ethmoidal air cells
and sphenoidal air sinus
Anterior
Ethmoidal
Anterior ethmoidal
foramen, through
cribiform plate to cranial
cavity, through nasal slit,
and to external nasal
branch
Under trochlea
Anterior/Middle ethmoidal
air cells, meninges, anterior
nasal septum and ant. nasal
wall, posterior ½ of nose skin
Infratrochlear
Maxillary Division
(V2)
Route
Above trochlea/Thru
supraorbital foramen
Greater and
Lesser Palatine
(from
pterygopalatine
ganglion)
Thru greater and lesser
palatine foramina
Posterior Nasal
(pterygopalatine g
Nasopalatine
(pteyrgopalatine
ganglion)
From ganglion and thru
Sphenopalatine foramen
From ganglion and thru
Sphenopalatine foramen
and incisive foramen
Middle corner of upper
eyelid, side of nose
Sensory to hard and soft
palate
Carry taste to hard and soft
palates from
pterygopalatine ganglion (VII
– greater petrosal)
Sensory to posterior nasal
septum/walls
To nasal septum, anterior
hard palate
Motor
Parasympathetics
To lacrimal gland from
zygomatic of V2 (from
greater petrosal of VII)
***SYMPATHETICS to the
dilator of pupil and
vasculature of eye
Parasympathetic branches
to mucosa of hard and soft
palate  mucous
To nasal glands
To nasal/palatine glands
Maxillary (V3)
Zygomatic
Zygomaticofacial
To zygomatic and temporal
regions of face
To lacrimal gland via lacrimal
nerve V1
Zygomaticotempo
ral
Mandibular
Division (V3)
Through foramen
ovale to the
infratemporal
fossa
Superior Alveolar
Thru alveolar canals
Infraorbital
Inferior orbital fissure,
Infraorbital groove,
foramen, canal…
TERMINAL BR.
To teeth and gums, and
maxillary sinus
To lower eyelid, anterior
cheek, upper lip, nasal
vestibule, side of nose
Motor Branches
Meningeal
To muscles of
mastication, ant.
belly of digastric
and mylohyoid,
to tensor of
palate and
tensor tympani
Runs with middle
meningeal artery through
the foramen spinosum
Buccal
To dura mater
To corner of mouth and
inside of mouth
To the external ear and scalp
over temporal region
Temporalmandibular joint
(TMJ!!!!!)
Auriculotemporal
Splits around the middle
meningeal artery, reforms
and runs to parotid gland
Inferior Alveolar
Mandibular foramen,
mandibular canal, mental
foramen  mental nerve
Lower teeth and gums, and
lower chin
Lingual
Runs near 3rd molar and
duct of submandibular
gland
Sensory to anterior 2/3
tonuge
Taste from chorda tympanii
Carries postganglionic
parasympathetics from IX
from lesser auricular and
delivers to facial  parotid
gland
Gives off motor
branch to
mylohyoid &
ant. digastrics
(submandibular ganglion)
from chorda tympani 
submandibular, sublingual
and lingual glands)