Cranial Nerve Functions

XI. Accessory nerve

Formed by a spinal root and cranial root; after forming nerve, cranial root fibers quickly leave to join the vagus nerve.

VII. Facial nerve

MIXED NERVE: major SENSORY function is to convey taste information from anterior 2/3 of the tongue. major MOTOR nerve of face, controlling most of facial muscles, except chewing muscles. Also contains parasympathetic nerve fibers

5. Trigeminal nerve

MIXED NERVE: Major SENSORY nerve of face, conveying somatosensory information. MOTOR function is innervation of the muscles of mastication, chewing, such as masseter and temporalis

IX. Glossopharyngeal nerve

MIXED NERVE: SENSORY fibers deliver somatosensory and taste information from pharynx and posterior 1/3 of tongue, and visceral sensory information from chemoreceptors and baroreceptors.

10. Vagus nerve

MIXED NERVE—visceral SENSORY fibers carry information from chemoreceptors and baroreceptors, important in cardiovascular reflexes, and some taste information from pharynx. Virtually all MOTOR fibers are parasympathetic visceral motor fibers, others innervate muscles of pharynx and larynx

IX. Glossopharyngeal nerve

MOTOR fibers innerve muscles of tongue and pharynx important in swallowing and gag reflexes, contains parasympathetic nerve fibers

10. Vagus nerve

only cranial nerve to leave head/neck region, travels extensively through ventral body cavity innervating most visceral organs, major source of parasympathetic outflow in body.

VI. Abducens nerve

primarily MOTOR in function, acts to innervate last extrinsic eye muscle, lateral rectus, as name implies, it abducts the eye

III. Oculomotor nerve

Primarily MOTOR in function, act to deliver motor impulses to four of the six extrinsic eye muscles: 1. medial rectus, 2. superior rectus, 3. inferior rectus, and 4. inferior oblique. Also contains parasympathetic nerve fibers.

IV. Trochlear nerve

Primarily MOTOR in function, acts to deliver motor impulses to another extrinsic eye muscle, superior oblique

XII. Hypoglossal nerve

Primarily MOTOR in function. Fibers innervate muscles of tongue, both intrinsic and extrinsic

XI. Accessory nerve

Primarily MOTOR in function. Spinal root fibers innerve neck musculature, including trapezius and sternocleidomastoid

1. Olfactory nerve

SENSORY function is olfaction ,smell. No motor function

VIII. Vestibulocochlear nerve

SENSORY function is to deliver auditory information from cochlea of inner ear, and to deliver equilibrium information from the other parts of the inner ear. This sensory input permits hearing and balance; no major motor function

II. Optic nerve

SENSORY function is visual. No motor function