Origin of the Cranial Nerves
There are a total of twelve cranial nerves. The cerebrum gives rise to the olfactory nerve (CN I) and the visual nerve (CN II).
The brain stem gives rise to the cranial nerves III–XII. They can come from a specific portion of the brain stem (midbrain, pons, or medulla), or from a point where two parts meet.
The trochlear nerve (IV) originates from the midbrain's posterior side. Of all the cranial nerves, it has the longest intracranial length.
Oculomotor(III) - midbrain-pontine junction.
Trigeminal (V) - pons.
Abducens, facial, and vestibulocochlear (VI-VII-VIII) - Pontine-Medulla Junction.
Glossopharyngeal, vagus, and accessory (IX-X-XI)-medulla oblongata : posterior to the olive.
Hypoglossal(XII) : anterior to the olive.
I. Olfactory nerve (Smell)
The olfactory nerve sends sensory information about smells to your brain.
II. Optic nerve (Vision)
The optic nerve is the vision-related sense nerve.
III. Oculomotor nerve (Move eyes, Pupil)
Muscle function and pupil response are two motor functions of the oculomotor nerve.
Muscle function is a term that refers to the ability of a muscle to perform a four of the six muscles around your eyes are controlled by the oculomotor nerve. These muscles aid in the movement and focus of your eyes.
It also aids in the management of your pupil's size as it responds to light.
IV. Trochlear nerve (Move eyes)
The superior oblique muscle is controlled by the trochlear nerve. The downward, outward, and inward eye motions are controlled by this muscle.
V. Trigeminal nerve (Face sensation)
The largest of your cranial nerves, the trigeminal nerve serves both sensory and motor tasks.
The trigeminal nerve is divided into three sections:
•Ophthalmic.
Sensory information from the upper half of your face, such as your forehead, scalp, and upper eyelids, is sent to the ophthalmic division.
•Maxillary.
The sensory information from the middle area of your face, including your cheeks, upper lip, and nasal cavity, is communicated through this division.
•Mandibular.
The sensory and motor functions of the mandibular division are both present. Your ears, lower lip, and chin all provide sensory information to it. It also regulates the movement of your jaw and ear muscles.
VI. Abducens nerve (Move eye)
The lateral rectus muscle, which is related with eye movement, is controlled by the abducens nerve. Outward eye movement is controlled by this muscle. For example, You might use it to look to the side.
VII. Facial nerve (Move face)
The facial nerve controls both sensory and motor processes, including the muscles that move your face and several muscles in your jaw.
Supplying flavor to the majority of your tongue
providing glands in your head or neck, such as salivary glands and tear-producing glands, that communicate feelings from your ear's outer parts
VIII. Vestibulocochlear nerve (Hearing and Balance)
Hearing and balance are sensory capabilities of the vestibulocochlear nerve. There are two parts to it: the cochlear portion and the vestibular portion:
Cochlear part:
Sound vibrations are detected by specialized cells in your ear based on the intensity and pitch of the sound. This causes nerve impulses to be generated, which are then sent to the cochlear nerve.
Vestibular part:
This section also has a collection of unique cells that can track both linear and rotational head movements. The vestibular nerve receives this information and uses it to change your balance and equilibrium.
IX. Glossopharyngeal nerve (Taste, Gag reflex)
The glossopharyngeal nerve serves both motor and sensory tasks, delivering sensory information from your sinuses, back of your throat, sections of your inner ear, and the back part of your tongue.
Producing a feeling of taste for the rear part of your tongue by activating voluntary movement of the stylopharyngeus muscle in the back of your throat.
X. Vagus nerve (Parasympathetic innervation)
The vagus nerve has a wide range of functions. It performs both sensory and motor functions, such as:
Communicating sensation information from your ear canal and parts of your throat.
Sending sensory information from organs in your chest and trunk, such as your heart and intestines; allowing motor control of muscles in your throat.
Stimulating the muscles of organs in your chest and trunk, including those that move food through your digestive tract (peristalsis); and providing a sense of taste near the root of your tongue.
XI. Accessory nerve (Shoulder Shrug)
The motor neuron that controls the muscles in your neck is known as the accessory nerve. Your neck and shoulders can rotate, flex, and extend thanks to these muscles.
There are two elements to it: spinal and cranial. The top part of your spinal cord is where the spinal portion begins. The medulla oblongata is where the cranial part begins.
XII. Hypoglossal nerve (Swallowing)
The hypoglossal nerve is the 12th cranial nerve, and it controls the majority of the muscles in your tongue. It begins in the medulla oblongata and travels down into the jaw, eventually reaching the tongue.
Two different mnemonics to help you remember the cranial nerves.
First mnemonic goes like this on occasion our trusty truck acts funny very good vehicle anyhow now the first letter of each word corresponds to the first letter of that cranial nerve.
Mnemonics | Nerves |
On | Olfactory |
Occasion | Optic |
Our | Oculomotor |
Trusty | Trochlear |
Truck | Trigeminal |
Acts | Abducens |
Funny | Facial |
Very | vestibular cochlear |
Good | Glossopharyngeal |
Vehicle | vagus |
Any | Accessory |
How | Hypoglossal |
Second mnemonics goes like this some say Mary money but my brother says big brains matter more. just like this where S stands for sensory M stands for motor and B stands for both sensory and motor.
Mnemonics | Nerve |
Sensory | Olfactory |
Sensory | Optic |
Motor | Oculomotor |
Motor | Trochlear |
Both | Trigeminal |
Motor | Abducens |
Both | Facial |
Sensory | vestibular cochlear |
Both | Glossopharyngeal |
Both | vagus |
Motor | Accessory |
Motor | Hypoglossal |
Dysfunction of Cranial nerves
Certain cranial nerve disorders can impact the eye, pupil, optic nerve, or extra ocular muscles and their nerves, and are thus classified as cranial nerve disorders, neuro-ophthalmologic disorders, or both.
Smell, vision, chewing, facial feeling or expression, taste, hearing, balance, swallowing, phonation, head tilting and shoulder elevation, or tongue movements can all be affected by cranial nerve diseases . It's possible that one or more cranial nerves are impacted.
Tumors, inflammation, trauma, systemic illnesses, and degenerative or other processes can cause vision loss, diplopia, ptosis, pupillary irregularities, periocular pain, face pain, or headache, among other symptoms.
