Cranial Nerves
The “FACE” of
Cranial Nerves
I Olfactory
II Optic
III Oculomotor
IV Trochlear
V Trigeminal
VI Abducens
VII Facial
VIII Acoustic
IX Glossopharyngeal
X Vagus
XI Spinal Accessory
Xii Hypoglossal
Cranial
Nerves
Cranial Nerves
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CN I – Olfactory Nerve
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Sensory nerve
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Transmits the sense of smell
from the nasal cavity.
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This nerve has access to the
cerebral cortex, but does not
pass through the thalamus like
other cranial nerves.
REMEMBER:
Thalamus acts like a
switchboard relaying
info to parts of brain.
How good is your sense of smell?
 While
pinching your
nose closed and
closing your eyes,
eat a jelly bean.

Can you tell

what flavor it is?
Cranial Nerves

CN II – Optic Nerve

Special Sensory
Transmits visual signals from
the retina of the eye to the
brain

Say the color, not the word
How good are you at counting?
Cranial Nerves
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CN III – Occulomotor Nerve
Motor nerve
It controls the muscles that
allow for visual tracking and
fixation by the eye
Dilate or constrict our pupils in
response to changing light
conditions.
Raise our eyelids
Cranial Nerves
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CN IV – Trochlear Nerve
Motor nerve
Plays a role in the movement
of the eyes.
Especially important for
looking down and looking in
toward a midline object
.
Cranial Nerves

CN V – Trigeminal Nerve

Mixed nerve: sensory and motor

Contains the sensory fibers of pain
and touch from the face

Also controls muscles involved in
mastication (chewing)
Cranial Nerves

CN VI – Abducens Nerve

Motor nerve

Stimulates the lateral eye muscle to
turn the eye outward.

Longest of all cranial nerves; more
easily injured.

Nerve crosses to both eyes. If one side
injured, eyes do not move together
causing double vision or lazy eye.
Cranial Nerves

CN VII – Facial Nerve

Mixed nerve: motor and sensory

Controls the muscles used in smiling,
frowning, and other facial
expressions.

It also helps produce taste in twothirds of the tongue and

Allows for sensations of touch and
pain from the ear.
Cranial Nerves
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CN VIII – Acoustic (Vestibulocochlear)
Sensory nerve
Consists of two separate parts.
“Cochlear” nerve carries the sensation
of hearing from the ear to the brain.
“Vestibular “ nerve carries information
about position and movements of the
head = balance.
Cranial Nerves

CN IX – Glossopharyngeal
Nerve

Mixed nerve: sensory and motor

Allows for taste on the back portion
of the tongue

Provides sensations of pain and
touch from the tongue and tonsils

participates in the control of muscles
used during swallowing.
Cranial Nerves

CN X – Vagus Nerve

Mixed nerve: sensory and motor
It controls the sensory and motor
functions of the heart and glands.
It also participates in the process
of digestion.
Only nerve that extends out into
the body.
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Cranial Nerves
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CN XI – Spinal Accessory
Nerve

Motor nerve
Allows the trapezius muscle and
sternocleidomastoid muscle to
control the movements of the head
= tilt your head

Cranial Nerves
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CN XII – Hypoglossal Nerve

Motor nerve
Allows the tongue to move
properly; helps in speech and
moving food to back of mouth for
swallowing.
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