Cranial Nerves

• Olfactory (I):

  • Sensory
  • Reception & interpretation of smell
• Optic (II):

  • Sensory
  • Sense of sight
• Oculomotor (III):

  • Motor
  • Eye movement; elevation of upper eyelids
  • Regulation of pupil size
• Trochlear (IV):

  • Motor
  • Movement of eyeball in downward, inward direction
• Trigeminal (V):

  • Mixed
  • Jaw clenching & chewing movements
  • Corneal reflex
  • Sensations (touch, pain) in face
  • Cornea, scalp, & teeth
• Abducens (VI):

  • Motor
  • Movement of eyeball in lateral direction
• Facial (VII):

  • Mixed
  • Facial expressions; secretion of saliva & tears
  • Blinking
  • Sensation of taste on anterior 2/3 of tongue (sweet, salty)
• Vestibulocochlear (VIII):

  • Sensory
  • Sense of hearing & balance
• Glossopharyngeal (IX):

  • Mixed
  • Swallowing movements
  • Secretion of saliva
  • Sensation of taste on posterior 1/3 of tongue (bitter, sour)
  • Prevents aspiration as part of gag reflex
• Vagus (X):

  • Mixed
  • Swallowing; part of the gag reflex
  • Sensation behind ear
  • Stimulation of pharynx & epiglottis
  • Parasympathetic stimulation of organs thorax & abdomen
• Accessory (XI):

  • Motor
  • Movement of shoulders; turning of head
• Hypoglossal (XII):

  • Motor
  • Movement of tongue muscles for speech & swallowing