Cranial Nerves: Functions, Locations, and Mnemonics

Overview

• Presenter: Sarah from RegisterNurseRN.com
• Focus: Cranial Nerves
• Key Topics:
  • Location of cranial nerves
  • Functions of each nerve
  • Mnemonics for remembering the order and type of cranial nerves
  • Suggested website for quiz: RegisterNurseRN.com

The 12 Cranial Nerves

1. Olfactory Nerve (I)

• Location: Pink area at the top
• Function: Responsible for smell
• Mnemonic: Think of a stinky factory - 'Factory' -> Smell

2. Optic Nerve (II)

• Location: Green area
• Function: Responsible for sight
• Mnemonic: 'Optic' relates to eyes -> Sight

3. Oculomotor Nerve (III)

• Location: Pink area below the optic area
• Function: Moves eyelids, eyeballs, adjusts pupils and lenses
• Mnemonic: 'Oculo' -> Eye movement

4. Trochlear Nerve (IV)

• Location: Purple areas on both sides
• Function: Moves eyeballs
• Mnemonic: 'Tro' -> Trolleyball -> Eye movement

5. Trigeminal Nerve (V)

• Location: Largest nerve
• Function: Moves facial muscles - chewing, facial expressions
• Mnemonic: 'Trigeminal' -> Three branches - face functions

6. Abducens Nerve (VI)

• Location: Pink area
• Function: Moves eyeballs
• Mnemonic: 'Abducens' -> Abduction -> Eye movement

7. Facial Nerve (VII)

• Location: Grouped with nerves VIII, IX, and X
• Function: Produces tears, allows taste, saliva production, facial expressions
• Mnemonic: 'Facial' -> Face functions -> Expressions, tears, etc.

8. Vestibulocochlear Nerve (VIII)

• Location: Brown sections
• Function: Responsible for hearing
• Mnemonic: 'Cochlear implants' -> Hearing

9. Glossopharyngeal Nerve (IX)

• Location: Green area below VIII nerve
• Function: Swallowing, saliva production, taste
• Mnemonic: 'Glosso' -> Tongue functions

10. Vagus Nerve (X)

• Location: Pink area
• Function: Controls peripheral nervous system, GI tract
• Mnemonic: 'Vagus' -> Vague -> Broad functions including GI

11. Accessory Nerve (XI)

• Location: Orange/brown area
• Function: Moves head, shoulders, swallowing
• Mnemonic: 'Accessory' -> Accessory movements of head and shoulders

12. Hypoglossal Nerve (XII)

• Location: Purple area on top of the brainstem
• Function: Moves tongue, speech, swallowing
• Mnemonic: 'Glossal' -> Tongue

Mnemonics for Cranial Nerves

Order Mnemonic

• Phrase: Old Operators Occasionally Troubleshoot Tricky Abducted Family Veterans Galloping Bently Across History
• Details:
  • Old: Olfactory (I)
  • Operators: Optic (II)
  • Occasionally: Oculomotor (III)
  • Troubleshoot: Trochlear (IV)
  • Tricky: Trigeminal (V)
  • Abducted: Abducens (VI)
  • Family: Facial (VII)
  • Veterans: Vestibulocochlear (VIII)
  • Galloping: Glossopharyngeal (IX)
  • Bently: Vagus (X)
  • Across: Accessory (XI)
  • History: Hypoglossal (XII)
• Benefit: Matches first letters to nerves for easier recall

Sensory/Motor/Both Mnemonic

• Phrase: Some Say Marry Money But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter More
• Details:
  • Some: Sensory (I)
  • Say: Sensory (II)
  • Marry: Motor (III)
  • Money: Motor (IV)
  • But: Both (V)
  • My: Motor (VI)
  • Brother: Both (VII)
  • Says: Sensory (VIII)
  • Big: Both (IX)
  • Brains: Both (X)
  • Matter: Motor (XI)
  • More: Motor (XII)

Conclusion

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