Cranial Nerves Flashcards

Questions and Answers

List the 12 pairs of cranial nerves.

Olfactory, Optic, Oculomotor, Trochlear, Trigeminal, Abducens, Facial, Vestibulocochlear, Glossopharyngeal, Vagus, Accessory, Hypoglossal

What is the function of the Olfactory nerve?

Smell

What is the function of the Optic nerve?

Vision

What is the primary function of the Oculomotor nerve?

Moves eyeball in orbit Signup and view all the answers

Which cranial nerve is responsible for directing eyeball movements?

Trochlear Signup and view all the answers

What functions does the Trigeminal nerve serve?

Both sensory and motor; it supplies sensory fibers to the face and motor fibers to the chewing muscles. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Abducens nerve?

Controls the lateral movement of the eyeball Signup and view all the answers

What are the functions of the Facial nerve?

Both sensory and motor; it controls facial expression and taste. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the Vestibulocochlear nerve?

Equilibrium and hearing Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Glossopharyngeal nerve?

Taste and innervates part of the tongue and pharynx Signup and view all the answers

What unique function does the Vagus nerve have among cranial nerves?

Extends beyond the head and neck Signup and view all the answers

Which cranial nerve innervates the muscles of the tongue?

Hypoglossal Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cranial Nerves Overview

There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves, each with specific functions related to sensory, motor, or mixed modalities.
Each nerve innervates particular body regions and structures.

Cranial Nerves Listing

Olfactory: Sensory; responsible for the sense of smell. Originates from the olfactory epithelium and terminates in the primary olfactory cortex.
Optic: Sensory; responsible for vision. Arises from the retina, passes through the optic canal, and terminates at the thalamus and primary visual cortex.
Oculomotor: Motor; controls eye movement, eyelid elevation, pupil constriction, and lens shape. Originates from the midbrain.
Trochlear: Motor; directs eyeball movements. Fibers originate from the midbrain and enter the orbits.
Trigeminal: Mixed; provides sensory innervation to the face and motor innervation to chewing muscles.
Abducens: Motor; innervates the lateral rectus muscle responsible for abducting the eyeball. Originates from the pons.
Facial: Mixed; controls facial expressions, and autonomic impulses to lacrimal and salivary glands, and provides taste sensation.
Vestibulocochlear: Sensory; has two divisions—vestibular (balance) and cochlear (hearing). Originates from the inner ear.
Glossopharyngeal: Mixed; innervates part of the tongue and pharynx and provides taste sensation. Emerges from the medulla.
Vagus: Mixed; extends beyond the head and neck, supplying parasympathetic fibers to heart, lungs, and visceral organs. Also associated with taste from viscera.
Accessory: Motor; innervates muscles of the larynx, pharynx, soft palate, trapezius, and sternocleidomastoid. Passes through the jugular foramen.
Hypoglossal: Motor; innervates muscles of the tongue, contributing to swallowing and speech. Originates from the medulla.

Key Functional Details

Sensory nerves transmit sensory information only (Olfactory, Optic, Vestibulocochlear).
Motor nerves control muscle actions (Oculomotor, Trochlear, Abducens, Accessory, Hypoglossal).
Mixed nerves contain both sensory and motor fibers (Trigeminal, Facial, Glossopharyngeal, Vagus).

Description

Test your knowledge on the 12 pairs of cranial nerves through these flashcards. Identify their sensory, motor, or mixed functions, and the body regions they innervate. Perfect for students studying neuroanatomy!