Mnemonic

Cranial Nerve Functions

A mnemonic for the twelve cranial nerves and whether each is sensory or motor.

Expansion

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Expansion

Names: On Old Olympus Towering Tops A Finn And German Viewed Some Hops

Modality: Some Say Marry Money But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter More

Nerve Name Modality Main function
I Olfactory S Smell
II Optic S Vision
III Oculomotor M Most eye movement, pupil, eyelid
IV Trochlear M Superior oblique
V Trigeminal B Facial sensation, muscles of mastication
VI Abducens M Lateral rectus
VII Facial B Facial expression, taste anterior tongue
VIII Vestibulocochlear S Hearing and balance
IX Glossopharyngeal B Taste posterior tongue, gag afferent
X Vagus B Palate, larynx, parasympathetic to viscera
XI Accessory M Sternocleidomastoid, trapezius
XII Hypoglossal M Tongue movement

Two clinically useful points: LR6 SO4, all the rest are 3 for eye movement; and the upper face has bilateral cortical innervation, so an upper motor neurone lesion spares the forehead while a lower motor neurone (Bell) palsy does not.