CRANI

AL
NERVE
 12 Cranial Nerves
Olfactory nerve Facial nerve
Optic nerve Vestibulocochlear nerve
Oculomotor nerve Glossopharyngeal nerve

Trochlear nerve Vagus nerve

Trigeminal nerve Spinal accessory
Abducens nerve Hypoglossal nerve
Olfactory Receptors
Olfactory receptors are a type of sensory receptors
located in the nose. They are responsible for our sense
of smell. These receptors are specialized cells that
detect different odor molecules present in the air.

When we inhale or smell something, these molecules

come into contact with the olfactory receptors in our
nasal passages. The olfactory receptors then send
signals to the brain, which processes the information
and allows us to perceive and identify different smells.
 Olfactory Bulb
This is responsible for processing and
interpreting information about different
smells detected by our olfactory
receptors in the nose.

Olfactory Tract
The olfactory tract is a bundle of nerve
fibers that connects the olfactory bulb to
other regions of the brain, specifically
the primary olfactory cortex.

Olfactory Nerves
They are the primary means by which
the sense of smell is transmitted to the
central nervous system.
 Optic nerve
this nerve transmits visual information
from the eye to the brain. It is actually
considered part of the central nervous
system (cns) rather than a true nerve,
as it does not have sensory or motor
neurons.
Oculomotor nerve
The oculomotor nerve is the third cranial
nerve (CN III). It allows movement of the
eye muscles, constriction of the pupil,
focusing the eyes and the position of the
upper eyelid. Cranial nerve III works with
other cranial nerves to control eye
movements and support sensory
functioning.
 Trochlear nerve
The trochlear nerve is the fourth out of 12 cranial nerves
that wire the human brain. Also known as cranial nerve 4
(CN IV), the trochlear nerve controls the superior
oblique muscle of the eye. This extraocular muscle
allows the eyes to look downward, toward the nose, or
away from the nose.

Because the trochlear nerve provides eye

movements, it’s considered a motor nerve. It has
the longest route of any cranial nerve but is very
thin. This makes it fragile. Injury or illness can
affect the nerve and cause it to work improperly
— a condition called trochlear nerve palsy.
Trigeminal nerve
The trigeminal nerve is the part of the
nervous system responsible for sending pain, touch
and temperature sensations from your face to your
brain. It's a large, three-part nerve in your head that
provides sensation.
What are the trigeminal nerve branches?
The trigeminal nerve has three branches that perform distinct functions:
• Ophthalmic: This branch sends nerve impulses from the upper part of
your face and scalp to your brain. Ophthalmic refers to the eye. The
ophthalmic nerve relates to your eyes, upper eyelids and forehead.
• Maxillary: This nerve branch is responsible for sensations in the middle
part of your face. Maxillary refers to the upper jaw. The maxillary nerves
extend to your cheeks, nose, lower eyelids and upper lip and gums.
• Mandibular: The mandibular (lower jaw) branch aids sensation to the
lower part of your face, such as the jaws, lower lip and gum. These
nerves also have a motor function. They help you bite, chew and
swallow.
 Abducens nerve
The abducens nerve, also called the sixth cranial nerve or
cranial nerve 6, is a motor nerve that controls the lateral
rectus muscle. This is an extraocular eye muscle that
allows the eye to perform abduction. Abduction is an
outward movement.

For example, crossing your eyes inward to look in

at your nose is using adduction — the opposite
motion of abduction. So, the eyes’ ability to focus
in a direction away from the nose is controlled by
the lateral rectus muscle and, in turn, the abducens
nerve.
Facial nerve
TThe facial nerve is a pathway from your
brain to certain muscles in your face. It
controls muscles that help you make
expressions like raising an eyebrow,
smiling or frowning. This nerve is also
responsible for most of your tongue’s
taste sensations.
 Vestibulocochlear nerve
The vestibulocochlear nerve, also known as the eighth
cranial nerve, is a bundle of fibers that carries information
related to hearing and balance from the inner ear to the
brain.
In simpler terms, this nerve helps us hear sounds and
maintain our balance. It has two main parts:
1. Cochlear nerve: This part of the nerve transmits sound
information from the cochlea (a spiral-shaped organ in the
inner ear) to the brainstem, where it is processed and
interpreted as sound.
2. Vestibular nerve: This part of the nerve transmits
information about balance and movement from the
vestibules (two small sacs in the inner ear) to the brainstem,
where it helps us maintain our equilibrium and coordinate
our movements.
Glossopharyngeal nerve
The glossopharyngeal nerve is the ninth of 12 cranial
nerves (CN IX). These nerves start in your
brainstem. They connect to organs, muscles and
other structures in your mouth and throat. These
nerves are paired — there’s one on each side.
The glossopharyngeal nerve ends deep inside of your neck near the
back of your throat. Among its many functions, it enables
swallowing. It’s also one of the few nerves in your body with three
types of fibers:
• Motor: Enables muscle movement.
• Parasympathetic: Helps tissue and organs rest when not in use.
• Sensory: Provides sensation, so you can detect taste, touch and
temperature.
 Vagus nerve
The vagus nerve is a long, winding nerve that originates in the
brainstem and extends down through the neck and into the chest and
abdomen. Its name comes from the Latin word "vagus," which means
"wandering."

The vagus nerve is responsible for regulating many of the body's

essential functions, such as heart rate, breathing, digestion, and even
mood. It does this by sending signals to various organs and systems in
the body, telling them when to speed up or slow down.

For example, when you're feeling stressed or anxious, the vagus nerve
can help to calm your body down by slowing your heart rate and
breathing. It also plays a role in digestion by signaling the stomach to
release digestive enzymes and the intestines to contract, moving food
through the system.
Spinal accessory
The spinal accessory nerve, also known as the cranial
nerve XI, is a nerve that helps move the neck muscles.
In simple terms, it helps us turn our heads from side to
side. This nerve doesn't originate in the spine like most
other nerves do; instead, it starts in the brainstem and
travels down through the neck to reach the muscles. Its
main function is to control the movement of the
sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles, which are
important for turning the head and raising the shoulder,
respectively. When this nerve is damaged or injured, it
can cause weakness or paralysis in these muscles,
making it difficult to move the head or shoulder.
 Hypoglossal nerve
The hypoglossal nerve is a cranial
nerve that helps us move our tongue.
It starts in the brainstem and travels
down to the neck, where it connects to
the muscles in our tongue. When we
want to move our tongue to speak,
swallow, or eat, the hypoglossal nerve
sends signals to these muscles,
allowing us to control their
movements.