Cranial nerves

Cranial nerves are nerves which emerge from the brainstem instead of the spinal cord. Cranial nerves I and II are named as such, but are technically not nerves, as they are continuations of the central nervous system.

Related Topics:
Nerve - Brainstem - Spinal cord

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In human anatomy, there are exactly 12 pairs of them, traditionally abbreviated by the corresponding Roman numerals:

Related Topics:
Human anatomy - Roman numeral

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Olfactory nerve (I)
• Optic nerve (II)
• Oculomotor nerve (III)
• Trochlear nerve (IV)
• Trigeminal nerve (V), subdivided into
• *Ophthalmic nerve (V1)
• *Maxillary nerve (V2)
• *Mandibular nerve (V3)
• Abducens nerve (VI), sometimes called the abducent nerve
• Facial nerve (VII)
• Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII), sometimes called the auditory nerve
• Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
• Vagus nerve (X)
• Accessory nerve (XI), sometimes called the cranial accessory nerve or spinal accessory nerve.
• Hypoglossal nerve (XII)

:Note: technically the accessory nerve splits in the spinal accessory nerve and the cranial accessory nerve, but the latter quickly combines with the vagus nerve.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 
Cranial nerves: Nerves and nuclei ►