Cranial Nerves

Nerve CN Source Branches Motor Sensory Notes

Multiple olfactory
filaments pass
through the
cribriform plate to
Filaments of the Second order exit the anterior
bipolar olfactory Olfactory nerve cranial fossa and
Olfactory I epithelial cells cell bodies None Smell (SVA) synapse in the
constitute the located in the olfactory bulb; the
Olfactory n. olfactory bulb olfactory tract
carries the signal
from the bulb to
olfactory cortex of
the forebrain.

The course of the

optic nerve is:
through the optic
Ganglion layer of canal to the optic
Optic II the retina to the None None Vision (SSA) chiasma, then the
forebrain. optic tract to the
lateral geniculate
body and optic
radiation

GSE:
* Superior br.:
levator palpebrae,
superioris m.,
superior rectus m.
Oculomotor * Inferior br:
nuclei of the medial rectus m.,
midbrain inferior rectus m.,
(extraocular inferior oblique m.;
muscles); GVE: ciliary m. & Passes through the
accessory Superior br., sphincter pupillae superior orbital
Oculomotor III None
oculomotor Inferior br. m. (preganglionic fissure to exit the
nucleus (nucleus parasympathetic middle cranial fossa
of Edinger- axons go to the
Westphal - ciliary ganglion via
preganglionic the parasympathetic
parasympathetic) root, postganglionic
parasympathetic go
from the ciliary
ganglion to the
eyeball via short
ciliary nn.)

Passes through the

Trochlear nucleus Superior oblique m.
Trochlear IV None None superior orbital
of the midbrain of the eye (GSE)
fissure to exit the
middle cranial fossa;
it is the smallest
1 cranial nerve and the
www.brain101.info
only cranial nerve to
arise from dorsum
of brainstem
 middle cranial fossa;
it is the smallest
cranial nerve and the
only cranial nerve to
arise from dorsum
of brainstem

Motor root arises

from the
trigeminal motor
nucleus in the
SVE: anterior belly
pons (SVE); Some brs. carry pre-
of the digastric m.,
sensory part or postganglionic
mylohyoid m.,
arises from the Skin of the face; parasympathetic
tensor veli palatini
trigeminal mucous membranes of fibers; the trigeminal
Ophthalmic, m., tensor tympani
ganglion (GSA) the nasal and oral n. divides into three
Maxillary & m.; muscles of
Trigeminal V and projects into cavities; general divisions at the
Mandibular mastication:
the pons to the sensation (GSA) to the trigeminal ganglion;
divisions temporalis m.,
primary sensory anterior 2/3 of the SVE supplies
masseter m., lateral
nucleus of V or tongue muscles of 1st
pterygoid m.,
more inferiorly to pharyngeal arch
medial pterygoid
the nucleus of the origin
m.
spinal root of V
(medulla and
upper spinal
cord)

Passes through the

superior orbital
(GSA) skin of the fissure to exit the
forehead, upper eyelid middle cranial fossa;
Meningeal br., and nose; mucous the lacrimal n.
Ophthalmic
Trigeminal lacrimal n., membrane of the Receives
division of the V1 None
ganglion frontal n., upper nasal cavity, postganglionic
trigeminal n.
nasociliary n. frontal sinus, ethmoid parasympathetic
air cells and sphenoid axons to the lacrimal
sinuses gland from the
zygomaticotemporal
br. of zygomatic n.

Passes through the

Meningeal br., GSA: skin of the foramen rotundum
posterior upper lip, cheek, lowerto enter the
superior alveolar eyelid; mucous pterygopalatine
n., pharyngeal, membrane of the fossa; the
posterior palate; teeth and pterygopalatine
Maxillary superior medial gingiva of the ganglion is
Trigeminal
division of the V2 and lateral nasal None maxillary alveolar associated with it in
ganglion
trigeminal n. brs., arch; the mucous the pterygopalatine
nasopalatine n., membrane lining most fossa;
greater and of the nasal cavity; the
postganglionic
lesser palatine mucous membrane parasympathetic
nn., zygomatic lining the maxillary fibers distribute with
n., infraorbital n. sinus branches of the
maxillary division to
mucous glands of
2 the nasal cavity and
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palate; the
zygomatic n. & its
brs. carry
postganglionic
parasympathetic
axons to the orbit to
 mucous glands of
the nasal cavity and
palate; the
zygomatic n. & its
brs. carry
postganglionic
parasympathetic
axons to the orbit to
reach the lacrimal n.
and lacrimal gland

Passes through the

foramen ovale to
exit the middle
cranial fossa; the
otic ganglion is
associated with the
medial side of V3
below the foramen
Meningeal br., ovale; the
medial pterygoid SVE: mylohyoid auriculotemporal n.
GSA: skin of the
and lateral m., anterior belly of carries
lower lip and jaw
pterygoid nn., the digastric m.; postganglionic
extending superiorly
masseteric n., tensor tympani m., parasympathetic
Trigeminal above level of the ear;
Mandibular anterior and tensor veli palatini axons to the parotid
ganglion; motor mucous membrane of
division of the V3 posterior deep m.; muscles of gland; the
root arises from the tongue and floor of
trigeminal n. temporal nn., mastication submandibular
the pons the mouth; lower teeth
buccal n., (temporalis, ganglion is
and gingiva of the
auriculotemporal masseter, medial associated withe the
mandibular alveolar
n., lingual n., pterygoid and lingual n. near the
arch
inferior alveolar lateral pterygoid) submandibular
n. gland;
postganglionic
parasympathetics
from the
submandibular
ganglion supply the
submandibular
gland and the
sublingual gland

Passes through the

Pons: abducens GSE: lateral rectus
Abducens VI None None superior orbital
nucleus m.
fissure

Facial VII Pons and Greater petrosal Stapedius m., Taste (SVA) from the Exits the posterior
medulla: nucleus n. (preganglionic stylohyoid m., anterior 2/3 of the cranial fossa by
solitarius of parasympathetic posterior belly of tongue; part of the passing into the
medulla via to digastric m., skin of the external internal acoustic
nervus pterygopalatine muscles of facial auditory meatus meatus, goes
intermedius ganglion, expression; through the facial
(SVA sensory postganglionic secretomotor to canal; motor to
root) from parasympathetic lacrimal, muscles of facial
geniculate travels with brs. submandibular, expression exits the
ganglion; of maxillary sublingual, and skull at the
superior division of V), mucous glands of stylomastoid
3 salivatory nucleus chorda tympani the nasal and oral foramen
(GVE (SVA taste from cavities www.brain101.info
preganglionic anterior 2/3 of
parasympathetic) the tongue;
of pons via preganglionic
nervus parasympathetic
intermedius; to the
 superior division of V), mucous glands of stylomastoid
salivatory nucleus chorda tympani the nasal and oral foramen
(GVE (SVA taste from cavities
preganglionic anterior 2/3 of
parasympathetic) the tongue;
of pons via preganglionic
nervus parasympathetic
intermedius; to the
facial motor submandibular
nucleus of pons ganglion,
via motor root postganglionic
parasympathetic
to the
submandibular
and sublingual
glands), n. to
stapedius,
posterior
auricular n.,
intraparotid
plexus with
temporal,
zygomatic,
buccal, marginal
mandibular &
cervical brs.

Pons & medulla:

vestibular nuclei
from the
Divides within
vestibular Vestibular: Auditory nerve;
the temporal
ganglion of the balance/proprioception passes into the
Vestibulocochlear VIII bone into None
semicircular (SSA); cochlear: internal auditory
vestibular and
ducts; cochlear hearing (SSA) meatus
cochlear parts
nuclei in the
inferior cerebellar
peduncle

GSE:
Medulla: spinal
stylopharyngeus;
trigeminal
GVE: secretomotor
nucleus from the
to the parotid gland
superior ganglion Tympanic nerve
(preganglionic GVA: carotid body,
(GVA); nucleus to the tympanic Exits the posterior
parasympathetic via carotid sinus, pharynx,
solitarius from plexus and lesser cranial fossa by
the tympanic n. to middle ear; GSA: skin
the inferior petrosal n., passing through the
Glossopharyngeal IX the lesser petrosal of the external ear;
ganglion (SVA); carotid sinus n., jugular foramen;it
n. to the otic SVA: taste from the
nucleus ambiguus stylopharyngeus may penetrate the
ganglion; posterior 1/3 of the
(GVA); inferior brs., pharyngeal stylopharyngeus m.
postganglionic tongue
salivatory nucleus brs.
parasympathetic via
(GVE -
the
preganglionic
auriculotemporal
parasympathetic)
n.)

Vagus X Medulla: dorsal Auricular br., SVE: intrinsic GSA: skin of the Passes through the
motor nucleus pharyngeal br., muscles of the external auditory jugular foramen to
4 (GVE superior larynx, pharynx meatus; GVA: viscera exit the posterior
preganglionic laryngeal, (except www.brain101.info
of head, neck, thorax cranial fossa; vagus
parasympathetic); superior and stylopharyngeus), & abdomen proximal means "wanderer" in
inferior ganglion inferior cervical and palate (except to the left colic reference to its
(GVA); nucleus cardiac brs., tensor veli palatini); flexure; SVA: taste extensive
ambiguus (SVE); recurrent GVE: smooth from the epiglottis distribution to the
superior ganglion laryngeal n., muscle of the body cavities
 motor nucleus pharyngeal br., muscles of the external auditory jugular foramen to
(GVE superior larynx, pharynx meatus; GVA: viscera exit the posterior
preganglionic laryngeal, (except of head, neck, thorax cranial fossa; vagus
parasympathetic); superior and stylopharyngeus), & abdomen proximal means "wanderer" in
inferior ganglion inferior cervical and palate (except to the left colic reference to its
(GVA); nucleus cardiac brs., tensor veli palatini); flexure; SVA: taste extensive
ambiguus (SVE); recurrent GVE: smooth from the epiglottis distribution to the
superior ganglion laryngeal n., muscle of the body cavities
(GSA); inferior thoracic cardiac respiratory tree &
ganglion(SVA) brs., brs. to the gut (proximal to the
pulmonary left colic flexure),
plexus, brs. to heart; secretomotor:
the esophageal mucous glands of
plexus, anterior the larynx,
and posterior respiratory tree,
vagal trunks pharynx and gut;
secretomotor to
digestive glands

Spinal root enters

cranial cavity by
passing through the
foramen magnum.
Exits skull by
passing through the
jugular foramen.
Cranial root:
Accessory n. is
medulla - nucleus
motor only; the
ambiguous. GSE:
subtrapezial plexus
Accessory XI Spinal root: None sternocleidomastoid None
of nerves receives
spinal nucleus of and trapezius mm.
proprioceptive
the upper cervical
fibers: for the
spinal cord
sternocleido-mastoid
m. from the ventral
primary rami of
spinal nn. C2 and
C3 - for trapezius
via ventral primary
rami of C3 and C4

Hypoglossal XII Medulla: No named Intrinsic and None Exits the posterior
hypoglossal branches. extrinsic muscles of cranial fossa by
nucleus Branches of the the tongue (except passing through the
ventral primary the palatoglossus hypoglossal canal;
ramus of spinal m.) the superior root of
nerve C1 are the ansa cervicalis
carried by this travels with the
nerve and are hypoglossal n. for a
not considered short distance
to be branches
of the
hypoglossal
nerve

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