Cranial Nerve Examination

Cranial Nerve Examination

Cranial nerves are those nerves which arise from the brain and brain stem rather than the spinal cord. Nerves arising from the spinal cord are the peripheral nerves. There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves and these pairs of nerves passage through foramina in the skull, either individually or in groups. Cranial nerves are traditionally referred to by Roman numerals and these numerals begin cranially and run caudally.

Nerve Name Mnemonics

1. On old Olympus' towering top a Fin and German viewed some hops
2. Ooh, Ooh, Ooh, to touch and feel very good velvet. Such heaven!
3. Ooh, Ooh, Ooh, to touch and feel a girl's very soft hand
4. Ooh, Ooh, Ooh, take the anatomy final , a good vacation seems heavenly

• O: olfactory nerve (CN I)
• O: optic nerve (CN II)
• O: oculomotor nerve (CN III)
• T: trochlear nerve (CN IV)
• T: trigeminal nerve(CN V)
• A: abducens nerve (CN VI)
• F: facial nerve (CN VII)
• A: auditory (or vestibulocochlear) nerve (CN VIII)
• G: glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
• V: vagus nerve (CN X)
• S: spinal accessory nerve (CN XI)
• H: hypoglossal (CN XII)

Nerve Function Mnemonics

S  : Sensory
M : Motoric

B  : Both

Some say marry money but my brother says big brains matter more

• S: sensory (olfactory nerve - CN I)
• S: sensory (optic nerve - CN II)
• M: motor (oculomotor nerve - CN III)
• M: motor (trochlear nerve - CN IV)
• B: both (trigeminal nerve - CN V)
• M: motor (abducens nerve - CN VI)
• B: both (facial nerve - CN VII)
• S: sensory (vestibulocochlear nerve - CN VIII)
• B: both (glossopharyngeal nerve CN IX)
• B: both (vagus nerve - CN X)
• M: motor (spinal accessory nerve - CN XI)
• M: motor (hypoglossal nerve - CN XII)

Table summarising the cranial nerve location

Table is designed to provide the basic function of each cranial nerve

Source : www.en.wikivet.net