This document provides an overview of the 12 cranial nerves, their numbers, names and functions. It lists the structures each nerve innervates and its course through foramina or canals in the skull. For each nerve, it identifies whether its function is autonomic, mixed, motor, branchial motor, somatic, general sensory or special sensory. The cranial nerves discussed are olfactory (I), optic (II), oculomotor (III), trochlear (IV), trigeminal (V), abducens (VI), facial (VII), vestibulocochlear (VIII), glossopharyngeal (IX), vagus (X), spinal accessory (XI) and hypoglossal

1. Med-Source
Anatomy - Cranial Nerves Pg. 1
http://med-source.blogspot.com/
medial rectus (AD)
inf. rectus (↓& AD)
inf. oblique (↑& AB)
dilator pupillae
nasopalatine n.
zygomatic n.
CN I
(olfactory)
CN II
(optic)
CN III
(oculomotor)
CN V
(trigeminal)
CN VI
(abducens)
cribiform plate
nasal cavity
optic canal
orbit
sup. orbital
fissure
levator palpebrae superioris
sup. rectus (↑& AD)
sphincter pupillae (constricts pupil)
ciilliary m. (accomodates)
1/6 eyeball m.
sup. oblique (↓ & AB)
1/6 eyeball m.
lat. rectus (AB)
ophthalmic div.
(V1)
skin above lacrimal gland
foramen rotundum
CN IV
(trochlear)
palate, nasal cavity,
maxillary face &
teeth
maxillary div.
(V2)
mand. face & ant. 2/3 tongue
muscles of mastication
(masseter, temporalis, medial
and lateral pterygoids)
foramen
ovale
mandibular div.
(V3)
lacrimal n.
frontal sinus, scalp,
forehead, medial
upper eyelid
sup. div.
inf. div.
frontal n.
supratrochlear n.
supraorbital n.
ethmoid & sphenoid
sinuses & upper
nasal cavity
nasocilliary n.
post. ethmoidal n.
long cilliary n.
infratrochlear n.
communicating n.
ant. ethmoidal n.
iris & cornea
upper medial eyelid
cilliary ganglia
orbit
infraorbital n.
infraorbital
foramen
sup. alveolar nn.
buccal n.
lingual n. *
inf. alveolar n.
mental n.
mandibular
foramen
mandibular teeth & gums
chordae tympani
(CN VII)
cervical
sympathetics
mental
foramen
petrotympanic
fissure
chin skin
- autonomic
- mixed
- branchial motor
- somatic
- general sensory
- motor
- special sensory
auriculotemporal n.
ethmoid and frontal
sinuses, ant. cranial
fossa meninges, &
nose (int. & ext
nasal ns.)

2. Med-Source
Anatomy - Cranial Nerves Pg. 1
http://med-source.blogspot.com/
stylomastoid
foramen
palatine taste, nasal
& oral mucous
gland secretion
CN VII
(facial)
int. auditory
meatus
foramen
lacerum
chordae tympani
facial canal
in temporal
bone
hiatus
greater petrosal n.
pterygoid
canal
pterygopalatine
ganglion
deep petrosal n.
n. of pterygoid
canal
petrotympanic
fissure
ant. 2/3 tongue
sublingual &
submandibular
glands
lingual n. (CN V3)
submandibular
ganglion
n. to stapedius
post. auricular n.
skin over mastoid process,
tympanic membrane &
occipital belly of
occipitofrontalis m.
temporal n.
zygomatic n.
buccal n.
mandibular n.
cervical n.
muscles
of
facial
expression
CN VIII
(vestibulocochlear)
vestibular sensation
CN IX
(glossopharyngeal) stylopharyngeus m.
- autonomic
- mixed
- motor
- branchial motor- somatic
- general sensory
- special sensory
hearing
vestibular n.
cochlear n.
vestibular
ganglion
spiral ganglion
jugular
foramen
sup. & inf. ganglia
otic ganglion
tympanic lesser petrosal n. parotid gland
foramen
ovale
auriculotemporal n.
(V3)
carotid a.
carotid sinus n.
taste ant. 1/3 tonguelingual n.
mucous membranes post. wall
of oro & nasal pharynxes
pharyngeal plexus
lacrimal gland
infraorbital
fissure

3. Med-Source
Anatomy - Cranial Nerves Pg. 1
http://med-source.blogspot.com/
CN X*
(vagus)
(see pg. 2)
CN XI
(spinal accessory)
CN IX
(glossopharyngeal)
- autonomic
- mixed
- motor
- branchial motor
- somatic
- general sensory
- special sensory
jugular
foramen
skin of pinna
ext. auditory meatus
tympanic membrane
auricular n.
pharyngeal n.
palate & lower pharynx mm. (constrictors,
levator veli palatini, palatoglossus,
palatopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus, uvular )
epiglottis (taste)
laryngopharynx
sup. laryngeal n.
int. laryngeal n.
ext. laryngeal n.
mucosa above vocal folds
inf. contrictor m.
cricothyroid m.
cricothyroid membrane
reucrrent. laryngeal n.
larynx below vocal folds
larynx mm. (NOT cricothyroid)
* carries visceral
parasympathetics
SCM & trapezius
foramen
magnum
CN XII
(hypoglossal)
3 of 4 tongue m.: genioglossus,
styloglossus & hypoglossus
(NOT pataltoglossus, CN X)
hypoglossal canal