Study guide for nursing competitive exams

Cranial nerves and their functions


Number

Name

Type

Starts at

Ends at

Function

I

Olfactory nerve

Sensory

Upper part of the mucus membrane of the nasal cavity

Temporal lobe of the cerebrum

Sense of smell

II

Optic nerve

Sensory

Retina of the eyes

Occipital lobe of the cerebrum and cerebellum

Sense of sight

III

Occulomotor nerve

Motor

Nuclei from the cerebral aqueduct

Eye muscles

Movement of eyeball and constriction of pupils

IV

Trochlear

Motor

Nuclei near the cerebral aqueduct

Eye muscles

Movement of eyeball

V

Trigeminal

1.    Opthalmic

2.    Maxillary

3.   Mandibular

Mixed

1.    Sensory part from face, lips and tongue

2.    Motor part from pons

Pons

 

Muscles of the mastication

Mastication

VI

Abducent

Motor

Nuclei lying under the floor of the 4th ventricles

Eye muscles

Eye movements

VII

Facial (Mixed)

Sensory part

Taste buds in tongue

Cerebral cortex

Sense of taste

Motor part

Pons

Facial muscles

Facial Expression

VIII

Vestibulocochlear

Sensory

Vestibular

Sensory

Semicircular canal of the inner ear

Cerebellum

Body balance

Cochlear

Sensory

Organ of corti in inner ear

Cerebral cortex

Sense of hearing

IX

Glossopharyngeal

Mixed

Sensory part

Tongue, tonsils and pharynx

Cerebral cortex

Taste,

 gag reflex

Motor part

Medulla oblongata

Muscles of tongue and pharynx

X

Vagus nerve (Mixed)

Motor

Medulla oblongata

Muscles and sensory glands

Gag reflex and parasympathetic innervation

Sensory

Various organs

Brain

XI

Accessory

Motor

Medulla oblongata

Muscles of neck & shoulder, pharynx and larynx

Swallowing, shoulder shrug

XII

Hypoglossal

Motor

Medulla oblongata

Muscles of tongue

Swallowing and speech