CRANIAL NERVES: SUMMARY TABLE.

Cranial nerve Nucleus name Nucleus location Function Symptom/sign of damage

Olfactory (CNI) Anterior olfactory Olfactory tract Smell Anosmia

Optic (CNII) Lateral geniculate Thalamus Vision Blindness

nucleus

Oculomotor Midbrain Eye movement Eye deviates down & out

Oculomotor (CNIII)
Edinger Westphal Midbrain (elevation, adduction) Loss of pupillary/accommodation reflexes

Eye movement
Trochlear (CNIV) Trochlear Midbrain Diplopia, lateral deviation of eye
(depression of adducted eye)

Principal Pons Facial sensation Facial aneasthesia

Trigeminal (CNV)
Spinal Medulla Mastication Loss of pain sensation

Mesencephalic Pons/midbrain Insignificant

Motor Pons Weakness/loss of mastication

Abducent (CNVI) Abducent Pons Eye movement (Abduction) Medial eye deviation

Motor Pons Facial expresssion Paralysis of facial nerve muscles (+ hyperacuisis)

Facial (CNVII)
Solitary Pons Taste Loss of taste (anterior 2/3rds of tongue)

Superior salivatory Pons Salivation, lacrimation Dry mouth, loss of lacrimation

Vestibular Medulla Balance Vertigo, dysequilibrium, nystagmus

Vestibulocochlear (CN
VIII) Cochlear Medulla Hearing Hearing

Nucleus ambiguus Medulla Taste Loss of taste (posterior 1/3rd of tongue)

Glossopharyngeal (CN
IX) Inferior salivatory Medulla Salivation Insignificant

Solitary Medulla Innervation of pharynx Loss of gag reflex

Nucleus ambiguus Medulla Swallowing & talking Dysphagia & hoarseness of voice
Vagus (X)
Dorsal motor vagal Medulla Cardiac, GI tract, respiration Insignificant

Solitary Medulla Taste Loss of cough reflex (larynx/pharynx), loss of taste (hard palate)

Cranial Accessory (XI) Nucleus ambiguus Medulla Pharynx/larynx muscles Insignificant

Spinal accessory Spinal accessory Cervical cord Neck & shoulder movement Head turning/shoulder shrugging weakness

Hypoglossal (XII) Hypoglossal Medulla Tongue movement Atrophy of tongue muscles, deviation on protrusion,
fasciculaations

 
Nerve Main Function(s) Cranial exit point Peripheral innervation of head

Olfactory (CNI) Smell Cribiform plate Mucosa of nasal cavity

Optic (CNII) Vision Optic foramen Retina of eye

Eye movement
Oculomotor (CNIII) Superior orbital fissure All extraocular eye muscles except SO & LR
(elevation, adduction)

Eye movement
Trochlear (CNIV) Superior orbital fissure Superior oblique (extraocular eye muscle)
(depression of adducted
eye)

Facial sensation V1 - Superior orbital fissure Cutaneous sensation of nose, eyes and scalp.
Trigeminal (CNV)
Mastication   Cutaneous sensation of face: maxilla, nasal mucosa, upper lip and teeth

V2 foramen rotundum Cutaneous sensation of lower face: mouth mucosa, lower jaw teeth, tmj
and anterior 2/3rd of tongue.
 
Motor supply to muscles of mastication
 

V3 — foramen ovale

Eye movement
Abducent (CNVI) Superior orbital fissure Lateral rectus (extraocular eye muscle)
(Abduction)

Facial expresssion Entry: Internal acoustic meatus Motor: muscles of facial expression and scalp.
Facial (CNVII)
Taste Exit: stylomastoid foramen Sensory; taste from anterior 2/3rd of tongue

Balance
Vestibulocochlear Internal acoustic meatus Inner ear labyrinth structures (semi circular canal and cochlear
(CN VIII) Hearing apparatus)

Taste Posterior 1/3rd of tongue

Glossopharyngeal Jugular foramen
(CN IX) Salivation Parotid gland

Innervation of pharynx Mucosa and elevator muscles of pharynx.

Swallowing & talking Palatal muscles, pharyngeal constrictors, vocal cords

Vagus (X) Jugular foramen
Taste Taste & sensation to epiglottis

Cranial Accessory Swallowing & talking Motor supply to larynx and Pharynx
(XI)
Jugular foramen
Neck & shoulder Head rotation & shoulder shrugging
Spinal accessory movement

Hypoglossal (XII) Tongue movement Hypoglossal canal Intrinsic & some extrinsic tongue muscles