There are 12 cranial nerve excluding the R or N nerve. They are numbered from anterior ro posterior and are as below:
I | Olfactory nerve
Sensory input of scent
II | Optic
Sensory input from retina/fovea
III | Oculomotor
Motor output for control of eye and eyelid
IV | Trochlear
Motor control of eye
V | Trigeminal
Branches into 3 sub-nerves as below
V1 Opthamic
Scalp, forehead upper eyelid and nose
V2 Maxillary
Hard and sot palate, nasal cavity, cheek and temporal region of head
V3 Mandibular
Muscles of mastication
VI | Abducent
Motor output for control of eyes
VII | Facial
Motor output for control of facial muscles, salivation and taste
VIII | Vestibulo-chochlear
Sensory input for hearing and balance
IX | Glossopharyngeal
Salivation, taste (rear 1/3 of tongue), pharynx, bars and chemo receptors, tonsil and mid-ear
X | Vagus
Motor control of viscera, sensation in throat. The vagus nerve has both sympathetic and parasympathetic function.
XI | Accessory
Motor output for the neck and shoulders
XII | Hypoglossal
Motor output for the tongue, some skeletal muscle, partial viscera, sensation from skin and viscera
Heres a short mnemonic to help you remember them in order:
OOOTTAIVGVAH
Only
On
Observation
The
Two
Angry
Inmates
Very
Green
Veins
Appear
Hyperdilated
Foramena
The nerves leave the cranial vault transiting to the soft tissues in the head and neck. most of the foramen are in the sphenoid and temporal bones. The foramen allow passage of nerves and blood vessels in and out of the cranial vault. We will explore the foramen in a separate blog post!
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