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CRANIAL NERVES
DATA EVENT

Cranial Nerves
The cranial nerves are a set of 12 paired
nerves in the back of your brain. Cranial
nerves send electrical signals between
your brain, face, neck and torso. Your
cranial nerves help you taste, smell, hear
and feel sensations. They also help you
make facial expressions, blink your eyes
and move your tongue.

Function Anatomy

Conditions and Disorders Care

OV E RV I E W

What are the cranial nerves?

A number of cranial nerves send
electrical signals between your brain and
different parts of your neck, head and
torso. These signals help you smell,
taste, hear and move your facial
muscles.

The cranial nerves begin toward the back

of your brain. They are a key part of your
nervous system.

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How many cranial nerves

are there?
You have 12 cranial nerve pairs. Each
nerve pair splits to serve the two sides of
your brain and body. For example, you
have one pair of olfactory nerves. One
olfactory nerve is on the left side of your
brain and one is on the right side of your
brain.

What are the types of

cranial nerves?
Your 12 cranial nerves each have a
speciEc function. Experts categorize the
cranial nerves based on number and
function:

1. Olfactory nerve: Sense of smell.

2. Optic nerve: Ability to see.
3. Oculomotor nerve: Ability to move
and blink your eyes.
4. Trochlear nerve: Ability to move
your eyes up and down or back and
forth.
5. Trigeminal nerve: Sensations in
your face and cheeks, taste and jaw
movements.
T. Abducens nerve: Ability to move
your eyes.
7. Facial nerve: Facial expressions and
sense of taste.
V. Auditory/vestibular nerve: Sense of
hearing and balance.
9. Glossopharyngeal nerve: Ability to
taste and swallow.
10. Vagus nerve: Digestion and heart
rate.
11. Accessory nerve (or spinal
accessory nerve): Shoulder and
neck muscle movement.
12. Hypoglossal nerve: Ability to move
your tongue.

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F U N CT I O N

What is the purpose of the

cranial nerves?
Your cranial nerves play a role in
controlling your sensations and motor
skills.

Sensory nerves help you:

Feel touch.
Hear.
See.
Smell.
Taste.

Motor nerves play a role in controlling

your facial muscles or glands. Some
cranial nerves have both sensory and
motor functions.

A N ATO MY

Where is the location

(origin) of the cranial
nerves?
Two of your cranial nerve pairs originate
in your cerebrum. The cerebrum is the
largest portion of your brain that sits
above your brainstem. These two pairs
of cranial nerves include:

Olfactory nerves that affect your

sense of smell.
Optic nerves that affect your ability to
see.

The other 10 pairs of cranial nerves start

in your brainstem. Your brainstem
connects your brain and spinal cord.

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What is the longest cranial

nerve?
The longest cranial nerve is the vagus
nerve. Your vagus nerve has both
sensory and motor functions. It runs
through many parts of your body,
including your tongue, throat, heart and
digestive system.

Is there an easy way to

remember the cranial
nerves with a mnemonic?
Cranial nerve mnemonics are memory
devices to help you remember the names
of the nerves in order of one through 12.
Or they can help you remember whether
nerves are sensory, motor or both.

Cranial nerve mnemonics to remember

the names of the nerves in order include:

On old Olympus’s towering top, a Finn

and German viewed some hops.
Ooh, ooh, ooh to touch and feel very
good velvet. Such heaven!

To remember cranial nerve functions, the

words in the mnemonic start with:

S for sensory.
M for motor.
B for both.

The word order mirrors the numerical

order of nerves one through 12:

Some say marry money, but my

brother says big brains matter more.
Some say my mother bought my
brother some bad beer, my, my.

C O N D IT I O N S A N D
DISORDERS

What conditions and

disorders affect your cranial
nerves?
Some conditions or injuries can damage
parts of the brain where cranial nerves
are located. In some cases, a condition
may damage only one cranial nerve.
Trauma or surgery could injure or sever a
nerve.

Disorders that affect the cranial nerves

include:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS):

A progressive disorder where nerve
cells break down and muscles
weaken.
Bell’s palsy: Sudden muscle
weakness and drooping in one half of
your face.
Hemifacial spasm: Involuntary
contractions (twitches) on one side of
your face.
Internuclear ophthalmoplegia: Loss
of ability to move your eyes in sync
when you look to the side.
Oculomotor palsy: Damage to your
third cranial nerve that causes one of
your eyes to stay positioned as though
you are looking down and out to the
side.
Stroke: Interruption to blood supply in
your brain because of a blood clot or
ruptured (burst) blood vessel.
Traumatic brain injury: Disruption or
damage to brain function, often
because of a sudden and violent blow
to the head.
Trigeminal neuralgia: Chronic pain in
your Efth cranial nerve, which runs
through your cheek.

What are the common signs

or symptoms of cranial
nerve disorders?
Your cranial nerves affect many
functions and sensations. As a result,
different cranial nerve disorders have
different symptoms. A cranial nerve
disorder might affect your:

Balance.
Facial expressions.
Hearing.
Sense of smell.
Swallowing.
Taste.
Vision.

CARE

How can I keep my cranial

nerves healthy?
You can keep your brain, cranial nerves
and entire nervous system healthier with
a few lifestyle changes. You can:

Achieve and maintain a healthy

weight for your body type, sex and
age.
Drink alcohol only in moderation.
Eat a diet full of nutrient-dense foods
like fruits, vegetables and whole
grains.
Exercise regularly.
Keep your blood pressure within a
healthy range.
Manage any conditions that increase
the risk of nerve damage, such as
diabetes.
Quit smoking.

What is the outlook for

people with cranial nerve
damage?
An injured nerve may recover with time.
In some cases, rehabilitation can be
helpful to restore your nerve function.
You may receive rehabilitation from
professionals including:

Audiologist for auditory nerves.

Physical or occupational therapist
for nerves that control motor function
or balance (such as with vestibular
rehabilitation).
Speech and language pathologist for
face and mouth nerves.
Vision therapist for ocular nerves.

When should I call my

doctor?
The symptoms of cranial nerve injuries
or conditions vary depending on which
nerve is affected. Contact your
healthcare provider if you experience:

Drooling with no known cause.

Drooping in one side of your face.
Facial pain or numbness.
Muscle weakness or paralysis.
Slurred speech.
Tingling anywhere in your body.
Vision loss.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Your cranial nerves are nerve pairs in
your brain. They connect your brain to
other parts of your face, neck and torso.
Cranial nerves can play a role in
sensation, movement or both. If a
condition or injury affects your cranial
nerves, you may have problems with your
sense of taste, smell or vision. A cranial
nerve disorder may also affect your
ability to make facial expressions. You
can keep your entire nervous system
healthier by eating nutritious foods,
exercising and managing any health
conditions.

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Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on

10/27/2021.

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