Chapter 9: Nervous System

Facial nerve (VII)

Conduct impulses: from taste buds of tongue to the brain; from the brain to the face muscles Main function: sense of taste; contraction of muscles of facial expression

Accessory nerve (XI)

Conduct impulses: from the brain to certain shoulder and neck muscles Main function: shoulder movements; turning movements of the head

Abducens nerve (VI)

Conduct impulses: from the brain to the external eye muscles Main function: eye movements

Trochlear nerve (IV)

Conduct impulses: from the brain to the external eye muscles Main function: eye movements

Oculomotor nerve (III)

Conduct impulses: from the brain to the eye muscles Main function: eye movements

Hypoglossal nerve (XII)

Conduct impulses: from the brain to the muscles of the tongue Main function: tongue movements

Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)

Conduct impulses: from the ear to the brain Main function: hearing; sense of balance

Optic nerve (II)

Conduct impulses: from the eyes to the brain Main function: vision

Olfactory nerve (I)

Conduct impulses: from the nose to the brain Main function: sense of smell

Trigeminal nerve (V)

Conduct impulses: from the skin and mucous membrane of head and from teeth to the brain; also from brain to chewing muscles Main function: sensations of face, scalp, and teeth; chewing movements

Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)

Conduct impulses: from the throat and taste buds of tongue to the brain; also from the brain to the throat muscles and salivary glands Main function: sensations of the throat, taste, swallowing movements, secretion of saliva

Vagus nerve (X)

Conduct impulses: from the throat, larynx, and organs in thoracic and abdominal cavities to the brain; also from the brain to the muscles of throat and to organs in thoracic and abdominal cavities Main function: sensations of throat and larynx and of thoracic and abdominal organs; swallowing, voice production, slowing heartbeat, acceleration of peristalsis (gut movements)