The 12 cranial nerves

Cranial nerves: These are so called because they emerge through the foramina or fissures in the cranium and are covered by tubular sheaths derived from the cranial meninges.

The cranial nerves are bundles or sensory (or) motor fibers that inervate muscles (or) glands, carry impulses from sensory receptors, (or) show a combination of both motor and sensory functions.

The 12 cranial nervers:

1. Olfactory Nerve
2. Optic Nerve
3. Oculomotor Nerve
4. Trochlear Nerve
5. Trigeminal Nerve
6. Abducent Nerve
7. Facial Nerve
8. Vestibulocochlear Nerve
9. Glossopharyngeal Nerve
10. Vagus Nerve
11. Spinal Accessory Nerve
12. Hypoglossal Nerve

Cranial Nerves and their Funcitons - © Netters Atlas

To Know the Funciton and origin of these Cranial Nerves see: Detailed Description of 12 Cranial Nerves

14 Important facts and points about Cranial Nerves:

1. Trigeminal nerve is the Largest Cranial Nerve
2. Olfactory is the smallest cranial nerve
3. Vagus Nerve is with Vague or Extensive Distribution
4. Trochlear nerve shows largest intracranial course
5. Smallest branch of Trigeminal nerve is the Opthalmic branch
6. Largest branch of Trigeminal nerve is Mandibular branch
7. Buccal nerve is the only Sensory branch of anterior division of the Mandibular Nerve
8. Smallest of 3 terminal branches of opthalmic nerve is lacrimal nerve and frontal nerve is the largest terminal branch of opthalmic nerve
9. Posterior Ethmoidal is the branch of Nasociliary which is frequently absent.
10. Posterior Superior alveolar nerve is the branch of maxillary nerve in Pterygopalatine fossa
11. Middle superior alveolar nerve is present in only 28% of the individuals
12. Greater palatine nerve = Anterior palatine nerve
13. Lesser Palatine Nerve = Middle and Posterior palatine branches
14. Nervus Intermedius is Sensory branch of facial nerve

Remembering these cranial nerves is a must for any medical/dental student, and that too in order is a must, and knowing them in detail is also necessary so i am going to describe the functions of each of these nerves in detai in my future posts.

Related posts:

1. Contents of General Anatomy