Cranial Nerves Flashcards

Review all twelve cranial nerves, including their names, functional classifications, skull exits, major roles, and clinical anatomy.

Card 1 of 30Question

How many pairs of cranial nerves are present in humans?

Twelve pairs, numbered I to XII.

In This Section

1. How many pairs of cranial nerves are present in humans?

Twelve pairs, numbered I to XII.

2. Which cranial nerve is responsible for the sense of smell?

The olfactory nerve (cranial nerve I).

3. Through which skull structure do olfactory nerve fibers pass?

The foramina of the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone.

4. Which cranial nerve carries visual information from the retina?

The optic nerve (cranial nerve II).

5. Where do fibers from the nasal halves of the retina cross?

At the optic chiasm.

6. Which cranial nerve supplies most extraocular muscles?

The oculomotor nerve (cranial nerve III).

7. Which cranial nerve provides parasympathetic fibers for pupillary constriction?

The oculomotor nerve (cranial nerve III), through the ciliary ganglion.

8. Which muscle is innervated by the trochlear nerve?

The superior oblique muscle of the eye.

9. Which cranial nerve uniquely emerges from the dorsal surface of the brainstem?

The trochlear nerve (cranial nerve IV).

10. What are the three major divisions of the trigeminal nerve?

Ophthalmic (V1), maxillary (V2), and mandibular (V3).

11. Which division of the trigeminal nerve carries motor fibers to the muscles of mastication?

The mandibular division (V3).

12. Through which foramen does the maxillary nerve exit the cranial cavity?

The foramen rotundum.

13. Through which foramen does the mandibular nerve exit the cranial cavity?

The foramen ovale.

14. Which cranial nerve innervates the lateral rectus muscle?

The abducens nerve (cranial nerve VI).

15. What eye movement is impaired by an abducens nerve lesion?

Abduction of the affected eye.

16. Which cranial nerve supplies the muscles of facial expression?

The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII).

17. Which cranial nerve carries taste sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?

The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII), through the chorda tympani.

18. Through which skull opening does the facial nerve exit to reach the face?

The stylomastoid foramen.

19. What are the two functional divisions of the vestibulocochlear nerve?

The vestibular division for balance and the cochlear division for hearing.

20. Which cranial nerves enter the internal acoustic meatus?

The facial nerve (VII) and vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII).

21. Which cranial nerve carries taste and general sensation from the posterior third of the tongue?

The glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX).

22. Which cranial nerve supplies the stylopharyngeus muscle?

The glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX).

23. Which cranial nerve provides parasympathetic innervation to the parotid gland?

The glossopharyngeal nerve (IX), through the otic ganglion.

24. Which cranial nerve provides most parasympathetic innervation to thoracic and abdominal organs?

The vagus nerve (cranial nerve X).

25. Which cranial nerve supplies most intrinsic muscles of the larynx?

The vagus nerve (X), primarily through its recurrent laryngeal branch.

26. Which three cranial nerves exit the skull through the jugular foramen?

The glossopharyngeal (IX), vagus (X), and accessory (XI) nerves.

27. Which muscles are innervated by the spinal accessory nerve?

The sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles.

28. Which cranial nerve supplies intrinsic and most extrinsic muscles of the tongue?

The hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII).

29. Through which canal does the hypoglossal nerve exit the skull?

The hypoglossal canal of the occipital bone.

30. Which cranial nerves are classified as purely sensory?

The olfactory (I), optic (II), and vestibulocochlear (VIII) nerves.