GUIDE TO THE

CRANIAL NERVES

Forrest Monroe
and Michael Carry, PhD
University of Colorado
School of Medicine
2009
Updated by Mike Pascoe, PhD Fall 2011

Key
Sensory
Motor
Preganglionic Paraympathetic
Postganglionic Paraympathetic
Postganglionic Sympathetic

Olfactory Nerve (I)

Olfactory Bulb

Olfactory Tract
To medial temporal lobe

Cribriform Plate

Olfactory Nerves (I)

Mucosa
Nasal Cavity
Layer of
Mucus
Sagittal section through ethmoid bone

Optic Nerve (II)

Anterior
Retina

Retina
Optic
Canals
Optic
Nerves (II)
Optic
Chiasma

Optic
Tracts

Note: Red and blue here denote

left/right visual fields. All are
special sensory (vision) only.

Lateral Geniculate
Nuclei

Posterior

Superior view of cranium

Oculomotor Nerve (III)

Midbrain
Superior Orbital
Fissure

rR

rio

e
up

Oculomotor
Nucleus
Oculomotor
Nerve (III)

us

am

Ciliary
Ganglion

Infe

rior

Edinger-Westphal
Nucleus

Ram

us

iris

unaccommodated, flat lens, distant vision

zonule fibers contracted when ciliary muscle relaxes

pupil

sympathetic - dilation
parasympathetic - constriction

Levator Palpebrae Superioris

Superior Rectus

lens

accommodated, thick lens, near vision

zonule fibers relaxed when ciliary muscle contracts

(CNV - Short
Ciliary)

Medial Rectus
Inferior Rectus
Inferior Oblique

Ciliary Body (Accommodation)

Iris (Constriction)

Trochlear Nerve (IV)

Midline

trochlea

Midbrain

Troc
h
Ner lear
ve (
IV )

Superior Orbital
Fissure

Trochlear
Nucleus

Superior Oblique

Superior view of left eye

Trigeminal Nerve (V1)

Opthalmic Branch

medial

lateral

Posterior
Ethmoidal

Posterior
Ethmoidal
Foramen

Cornea

gC
ilia
ry

Anterior
Ethmoidal

ry

Anterior
Ethmoidal
Foramen

Short Cilia

Internal
Nasal

Infratrochlear

External
Nasal

Supratrochlear

Supraorbital

Ciliary
Ganglion

Trige
Opth minal ( V
almic )
Bran
ch

ia
cil

Superior
Orbital
Fissure

Na
so

Trigeminal
Ganglion

ry

Lo
n

Pons

l
nta
Fro
l

Lacrima

Superior view of right orbit

Supraorbital
Foramen

Trigeminal Nerve (V2) - Maxillary Branch

posterior
Pons

anterior

Trigeminal
Ganglion

(skin of cheek bone)

Zygomatic
Inferior Orbital
Fissure

Foramen
Rotundum

Infraorbital
Foramen

Infraorbital Groove/Canal

Infraorbital

(Maxillary
Sinus Mucosa)

Pterygopalatine
Ganglion

Trigeminal (V)
Maxillary Branch

Anterior Superior Alveolar (canine, incisors)

Medial Superior Alveolar (pre-molars)

Palatovaginal
Canal

Pterygomaxillary
Fissure (lateral coming toward you)

l
gea
ryn x)
Pha opharyn

Posterior Superior Alveolar (molars)

(nas

Lateral view of right

pterygopalatine fossa

Sphenopalatine
Foramen

Lesser Palatine
Foramen
Greater Palatine
Foramen

latine
Lesser Pa incl. taste)

Greater

e,
(soft palat

(hard pal

Na
so

pal

Lateral Posterior Superior Nasal

Medial Posterior Superior Nasal

atin

Incisive
Fossa

Palatine

ate, incl.
ta

ste)

Trigeminal Nerve (V3) - Mandibular Branch

posterior
Pons

anterior
Meningeal Branch

Trigeminal
Ganglion
Foramen
Spinosum

Trigeminal
Motor Nucleus

Foramen
Ovale
Deep Temporal (temporalis)
Masseteric

Trigeminal (V)
Mandibular Branch

Lateral Pterygoid
Medial Pterygoid (tensor palatini, tensor tympani)

Auriculotemporal

Long Buccal (skin/mucosa of cheek, gingiva)

(skin of parotid gland)

Lingual (mucosa of ant. 2/3 tongue, incl. taste)

Inferior
Alveolar

Middle
Meningial A.

Mandibular
Foramen

Incisive

Lateral view of skull

Nerve to the Mylohyoid
(ant digastric)

Mental
Mental
Foramen

(skin, mucosa
of lower lip)

Abducens Nerve (VI)

abducts the eye

Pons

Superior Orbital
Fissure
Lateral Rectus

Abducens
Nerve (VI)

optic
nerve

Abducens Nucleus

Superior view of left eye

Lacrimal
Gland

Facial Nerve (VII)

Lacrimal N.
Zygomatic N.

Hiatus of Greater
Petrosal N.

Facial Motor
Nucleus

Superior
Salivatory
Nucleus

( Ta

(incl. Taste)

ni )
pa gue
ym ton
a T /3 of
ord nt 2
Ch ste - a

Facial (VII)

Nerve of the
Pterygoid Canal

Pons

Pterygopalatine
Ganglion

N. to the
Stapedius

*
Lesser
Palatine
(Taste)

N. to the Stylohyoid
Temporal
Zygomatic
Buccal
Marginal Mandibular
Cervical

*Travels w/ Trigeminal
Maxillary Branch to mucosa
of hardpalate and nasal
cavity; except to skin and
dental pulp

Greater
Palatine
(Taste)

Petrotympanic
Fissure
Lingual

N. to the Posterior Digastric

Pte
Fos rygo
sa pal
ati
n

Geniculate
Ganglion

G
Pe reat
tro er
sa
l

Internal Auditory
Meatus

Pterygoid Canal

Stylomastoid
Foramen

(tongue/taste)

Sublingual Gland

Submandibular
Gland
Submandibular
Ganglion

(Note: Vestibulocochlear diagram not included by Dr. Carry - VIII has hearing axons only)

Glossopharyngeal Nerve (IX)

Hiatus for the
Lesser Petrosal

Foramen Ovale

Medulla

so(IX)
Glos yngeal
r
a
)
ph l. Taste

Jugular
Foramen

sal
er P
etro

Superior
Ganglion
Inferior
Ganglion

Tympanic
Canaliculus

Tympanic

N. to the Stylopharyngeus

Otic
Ganglion

w/ Auriculotemporal

Ca
ro
tid

Nucleus
Ambiguus

Hanging from
mandibular br
of CNV

(inc

Les
s

Inferior
Salivatory
Nucleus

(middle ear)

Parotid
Gland

Lingual [branch of glossopharyngeal]

(Taste - Post. 1/3 of Tongue)
Carotid A.

carotid body

Tonsilar (tonsilar bed)

Pharyngeal (gag reflex)

Vagus Nerve (X)

Medulla
Dorsal
Motor
Nucleus

Jugular
Foramen

s (X)
VaguTaste)
(incl.

Superior
Ganglion

Pharyngeal Plexus
Muscles of Palate/Pharynx

Inferior
Ganglion
Nucleus
Ambiguus

Auricular

ro
Ca

tid

(except tensor palatini, stylopharyngeus)

r
Pha

eal

yng

Superior Laryngeal
(incl. Taste)

Internal
Laryngeal
(incl. Taste)

Sensory and Taste:

Epiglottis to Vocal folds

External Laryngeal
Cricothyroid, Inferior Constrictors

Recurren
t Laryng

eal
From Vocal folds to Trachea,
Larynx except Cricothyroid & Inf Constrictors

Vagal Tru
n

Sensory to Left
Colic Flexure

Spinal Accessory Nerve (XI)

Spinal Accessory (XI)

Foramen
Magnum

Jugular
Foramen
Sterocleidomastoid
Trapezius

C1
C2
C3
C4
C5

Hypoglossal Nerve (XII)

Medulla
Hypoglossal
Canal
Hypoglossal
Nerve (XII)

Genioglossus
Hyoglossus
Styloglossus
Intrinsic Muscles of Tongue

Hypoglossal
Nucleus
emerging between
pyramid/olive

*damage to right hypoglossal nerve

results in deviation of tongue to the right

Bonus Content!
Cranial Nerves Mnemonics:
(G-rated) On Old Olympus Towering Tops A Famous Vocal German Viewed Some Hops
(X-rated) Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel Virgin Girls Vaginas And Hymens
Some Say Marry Money, But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter More
(S=Sensory, M=Motor, B=Both) Substitute Boobs for Brains for dirty version

Bony Landmarks/Exit Points

C O S3 R O S I2 J3 H
Cribriform Plate - I
Optic Canal - II
Superior Orbital Fissure - III, IV, V 1
Rotundum (Foramen) - V 2
Ovale (Foramen) - V 3
Superior Orbital Fissure - VI
Internal Acoustic Meatus - VII, VIII
Jugular Foramen - IX, X, XI
Hypoglossal Canal - XII