Overview
This lecture covers the 12 cranial nerves, their location, function, and provides mnemonics to remember their names and types (sensory, motor, or both).
Cranial Nerves: Names, Locations, and Functions
- Cranial Nerve I: Olfactory — located at the top; responsible for smell.
- Cranial Nerve II: Optic — located below olfactory; responsible for sight.
- Cranial Nerve III: Oculomotor — below optic; moves eyelids/eyeballs, adjusts pupil and lens.
- Cranial Nerve IV: Trochlear — side regions; moves eyeballs.
- Cranial Nerve V: Trigeminal — largest nerve; controls chewing and facial expressions.
- Cranial Nerve VI: Abducens — near trigeminal; moves eyeballs.
- Cranial Nerve VII: Facial — clustered with nerves 8, 9, 10; controls tears, taste, saliva, facial expressions.
- Cranial Nerve VIII: Vestibulocochlear — upper area; responsible for hearing.
- Cranial Nerve IX: Glossopharyngeal — below vestibulocochlear; swallowing, saliva, taste.
- Cranial Nerve X: Vagus — pink area; controls smooth muscle in GI tract, food movement, relaxation.
- Cranial Nerve XI: Accessory — orangish/brown region; moves head/shoulders, helps swallowing.
- Cranial Nerve XII: Hypoglossal — small purple area atop brainstem; moves tongue, speech, swallowing.
Mnemonics for Cranial Nerve Order and Type
- Order mnemonic: "Old Operators Occasionally Troubleshoot Tricky Abducted Family Veterans Galloping Bentley Across History."
- First two letters of each word match the nerve (e.g., OL = Olfactory, OP = Optic).
- Type mnemonic: "Some Say Merry Money But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter More."
- First letter of each word = Sensory (S), Motor (M), Both (B).
Key Terms & Definitions
- Cranial Nerves — 12 nerves originating from the brain, each with specific sensory or motor functions.
- Sensory Nerve — transmits sensory information (e.g., smell, sight).
- Motor Nerve — controls muscle movement.
- Both (Mixed) Nerve — has both sensory and motor functions.
- Glossal — refers to the tongue.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Write down the mnemonics to practice memorization.
- Take the quiz on registernursrn.com to test your knowledge.