Summary of cranial nerves

Cranial nerves

Pure Sensory nerve: 

 olfactory nerve, optic nerve and vestibulocochlear nerve (1, 2, 8)

Function of sensory nerve in short:

1. Olfactory nerve : carry smell

1. Optic nerve : responsible for vision

1. Vestibulocochlear nerve : vestibular part responsible for balance and cochlear nerve responsible for vision

No.	Sensory nerve	Component	Name of the opening  through which nerve  enter  into the  cranium	Arises from
I	Olfactory nerve	SVA	Cribriform plate of  ethmoid	Axon of olfactory nerve   arises from the Olfactory  receptors cells which are  situated in the nasal mucosa
II	Optic nerve	SSA	Optic canal	Optic nerve fibres are arises  from  the ganglionic cells  of the retina
VIII	Vestibulocochlear  nerve	SSA	Internal acoustic meatus	Nerves are arises from inner ear

Pure motor nerve:  Oculomotor,  trochlear and abducent , accessory nerve and hypoglossal 

 nerve (3, 4, 6,   11, 12)

Oculomotor, trochlear and abducent nerves are pure motor nerve which innervate extraocular muscles

	Nerves	Functions	Nucleus	Name of the opening through which nerve exit the cranium
III	Oculomotor nerve	All extra-ocular muscles of  eye are supplied by oculomotor nerve except SO and LR	Oculomotor nucleus Edinger –Westphal  nucleus	Superior orbital fissure
IV	Trochlear nerve	SO 4: superior oblique muscle is supplied by trochlear nerve	Trochlear nucleus	Superior orbital fissure
VI	Abducent nerve	LR 6: lateral rectus muscle is supplied by abducent nerve	Abducent nucleus	Superior orbital fissure

XI	Accessory nerve	Functions	Nucleus	Name of the opening  through which nerve exit  the cranium
	Cranial root	It supplies all muscles of soft palate  ( except tensor veli  palatine)  and all muscles of  the pharynx  except stylopharyngeus	Spinal accessory nucleus	Jugular foramen
	Spinal root	This part supplies the sternocleidomastiod and trapezius muscles		Foramen magnum
XII	Hypoglossal nerve	It supplies all muscles of the tongue  except  palatoglossus	Hypoglossal nucleus	Hypoglossal canal

Mixed nerves: (V, VII, IX, X)

 Trigeminal nerve,

Facial,

Glossopharyngeal,

 Vagus 

Trigeminal nerve (V)

It has three parts

		Foramen	Nucleus of trigeminal nerve
Ophthalmic nerve	sensory nerve	Superior orbital  fissure	Motor nucleus of trigeminal  nerve Spinal nucleus of trigeminal  nerve Main sensory nucleus of  trigeminal nerve and  mesencephalic nucleus of  trigeminal nerve
Maxillary nerve	sensory nerve	Foramen  Rotundum
mandibular nerve	Mixed : both  sensory and  motor	Foramen ovale

Functions of mixed nerves in short:

Trigeminal nerve functions (in short):

Sensory function: carry sensation from face

Motor function: ---Muscles of mastication, tensor tympani, tensor veli palatine

Facial nerve (VII)Functions (in short):

Sensory function: carry taste sensation from ant 2/3 of tongue

Motor function: motor innervation of muscles of facial expression

Secretomotor function: innervate lacrimal gland through pterygopalatine ganglion 

Glossopharyngeal nerve functions(IX) (in short):

Sensory function: carry taste sensation and general sensation from pos 1/3 of tongue 

Motor function: innervate stylopharyngeus muscle

Secretomotor function: innervations of parotid gland through otic ganglion

Vagus nerve(x) function in short :

Sensory function: carry taste sensation from post most part of tongue, carry sensation from larynx, 

external ear

Motor innervations: muscles of larynx