There are 7 cranial nerves that carry only 1 modality: olfactory, optic, trochlear, abducent, vestibulocochlear, accessory, and hypoglossal. The oculomotor and trigeminal carry 2 modalities each. The facial, glossopharyngeal, and vagus nerves carry 5 modalities and are the most complex cranial nerves. Each cranial nerve has specific functions related to sensation, motor control, or both in the head and neck regions and parts of the trunk.

1. There are 7 Easy Cranial Nerves! They carry only 1 Resident Modality: Welke - 1999
Cranial Nerve Resident Acquired Exit from Skull Function
Olfactory (CN I) SVA Cribiform Plate Smell
Optic (CN II) SSA Optic Canal Vision
Trochlear (CN IV) GSE Superior Orbital Fissure Innervates superior oblique muscle
Abducent (CN VI) GSE Superior Orbital Fissure Innervates lateral rectus muscle
Vestibulocochlear SSA Internal Acoustic Meatus Vestibular Division = Balance
(CN VIII) Cochlear Division = Hearing
Accessory (CN XI) SVE Jugular Foramen Innervates Sternocleidomastoid & Trapezius
Hypoglossal (CN XII) GSE Hypoglossal Canal Innervates hyoglossus, genioglossus, styloglossus,
& intrinsic muscles of the tongue
There are 2 Moderately Easy Cranial Nerves! They carry only 2 resident modalities:
Cranial Nerve Resident Acquired Exit from Skull Function
Oculomotor (CNIII) GSE, GVE Superior Orbital Fissure GSE = Innervates levator palpebrae superioris, superior rectus,
inferior rectus, medial rectus, & inferior oblique muscles
GVE = Innervates sphincter pupillae constriction; ciliary muscles for
accomodation of lens for near vision
Trigmeminal (CNV)
Opthalmic Division (V1) GSA GVE (CNIII,CN VII=para) Superior Orbital Fissure GSA = sensory from eyes, conjunctiva, orbital contents,
GVE (Int. carotid=sym) nasal cavity, frontal sinus, ethmoid sinus, upper eyelid,
dorsum of nose, anterior part of scalp
GVE (Para) = Innervates sphincter pupillae & ciliary muscles
GVE (Sym) = Innervates dilator pupillae & eye vessels
Maxillary Division (V2) GSA GVE (CN VII=para) Foramen Rotundum GSA = sensory from dura in anterior & middle cranial fossa, nasopharynx,
GVE (Int. carotid=sym) palate, nasal cavity, upper teeth, maxillary sinus, skin
covering side of nose, lower eyelid, cheek, upper lip
GVE (Para) = to glands of palate, pharynx, nose
GVE (Sym) = to glands of palate, pharynx, nose
Mandibular Division (V3) GSA, SVE GVE (CN IX=para) Foramen Ovale GSA = sensory from skin of lower face, cheek, lower lip, ear, external
GVE (Mid. Men.=sym) acoustic meatus, temporal fossa, anterior 2/3 of tongue,
SVA (CN VII) lower teeth, mastoid air cells, mucous membranes of cheek
mandible, dura in middle cranial fossa
SVE = innervates temporalis, masseter, medial & lateral
pterygoids, tensor tympani, tensor veli palatini, anterior
belly of digastric & mylohyoid muscles
GVE (Para) = to Parotid Gland
GVE (Sym) = to Parotid Gland
SVA = taste from anterior 2/3 of tongue
There are 3 Difficult Cranial Nerves! They Carry 5 Resident Modalities:
Cranial Nerve Resident Acquired Exit from Skull Function
Facial (CN VII) GSA, SVE, Internal Acoustic Meatus GSA = external acoustic meatus
GVE, GVA fibers from CN X for sensory from skin posterior to ear
SVA SVE = innervates muscles of facial expression, stapedius,
posterior belly of digastric, stylohyoid muscles
GVE = (fibers to PPG of V2)innervates lacrimal gland,
submandibular gland, sublingual gland, mucous membranes
of nasal cavity, hard palate & soft palate
GVA = (fibers from PPG of V2) sensory from structures listed with GVE
SVA = (fibers from CN V3) taste from anterior 2/3 of tongue
(fibers from PPG of CN V2) taste from palate
Glossopharyngeal GSA, SVE, Jugular Foramen GSA = fibers from CN X sensory from skin posterior to ear, posterior 1/3 of tongue
(CN IX) GVE, GVA SVE = innervates stylopharyngeus muscle
SVA GVE = (fibers to CN V3) innervates parotid salivary gland
GVA = sensory from carotid body & sinus, palatine tonsils,
upper pharynx, mucosa of middle ear, parotid gland,
and pharyngotympanic tube
SVA = taste from posterior 1/3 of tongue
Vagus (CN X) GSA, SVE, Jugular Foramen GSA = sensory from skin posterior to the ear, dura in posterior cranial fossa
GVE, GVA SVE = 1 tongue muscle = palatoglossus
SVA All muscles of palate except tensor veli palatini
All muscles of the pharyn except stylopharyngeus
All muscles of the larynx
GVE = innervates smooth muscle & glands of pharynx,
larynx, thoracic viscera & abdominal viscera of foregut &
midgut
GVA = sensory from aortic baroreceptors & chemoreceptors,
mucous membranes of pharynx, larynx, esophagus, bronchi,
lungs, heart, & abdominal viscera of foregut & midgut
SVA = taste from epiglottis