Published in Neuro

The OD's Practical Guide to Cranial Nerves: Downloadable Cheat Sheet

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5 min read
What's more nerve-wracking than neurology? This downloadable cheat sheet for the cranial nerves will help you memorize the important concepts.
The OD's Practical Guide to Cranial Nerves: Downloadable Cheat Sheet
A neurological exam is an important tool in a patient assessment and having a firm handle on neurological concepts and terminology is key. Optometrists should evaluate cranial nerves if they suspect underlying etiologies like stroke, lesions, demyelinating disease, head trauma, or Bell’s palsy. Ocular findings such as double vision, ptosis, pupil abnormalities, and vision loss may also come up as red flags.

Download the OD's Practical Guide to Cranial Nerves cheat sheet for a handy table + mnemonics!

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Get the cranial nerves cheat sheet!

Download the cheat sheet for easy reference to cranial nerves I - XI, plus handy mnemonics!

Remember: cranial nerves can be afferent, efferent, or both

Let’s start off with a simple anatomy of the brain to help guide us in learning the positions of these nerves. Cranial nerves originate from the brain or brainstem. They are numbered from where they emerge: front to back. They can be either afferent (sensory), efferent (motor), or sometimes both! Let’s get started . . .
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CNI - Olfactory

  • Origination: Cerebrum (1 of 2 nerves that originates from the cerebrum)
  • Purpose: Olfaction (sense of smell)
  • Innervation: Sensory
  • Test: Smell some coffee beans (try not to be too adventurous with smelling funny things, pee-yew!)
Your typical patient workup will have already covered testing for CNII, III, IV, and VI.

CNII - Optic

  • Origination: Cerebrum (the only other nerve that originates from there)
  • Purpose: vision (our favorite!)
  • Innervation: Sensory
  • Test: CVF, Snellen VA

CNIII - Oculomotor

  • Origination: Midbrain
  • Purpose: Eye movement, pupillary constriction, accommodation
  • Divisions:
    • Superior: levator palpebrae (lid elevation), superior rectus
    • Inferior: inferior rectus, medial rectus, inferior oblique, ciliary ganglion (sphincter pupillae, ciliary muscles)
  • Innervation: Motor
  • Test: PERRLA, EOM
Tidbit: CNIII palsy will present as a down and out eye with a ptosis. Pupil may be dilated (involved), or normal (spared).

CNIV - Trochlear

  • Origination: Midbrain
  • Purpose: Eye movement with the superior oblique
  • Innervation: Motor
  • Test: EOM
Tidbit #1: Palsy of this muscle causes hypertropia and a torsional component. Pt will have a head tilt opposite to the side of palsy.
Tidbit #2: Something unique about this nerve is that it is the ONLY cranial nerve that leaves the nervous system dorsally.
Tidbit #3: Also skinniest nerve with the longest intracranial course, which is why it is the most prone to trauma.

CNV - Trigeminal

  • Origination: Pons
  • Purpose: Corneal and facial sensation, mastication
  • Branches: (“Tri”-geminal meaning 3 branches!)
    • V1: Ophthalmic (nasociliary, frontal, and lacrimal)
    • V2: Maxillary (infraorbital, and zygomatic)
    • V3: Mandibular
  • Innervation: Both
  • Test: Compare sensation from forehead, upper cheek, and jaw. Clench teeth and feel masseter muscle. Open mouth, and check resistance to closing jaw.

CNVI - Abducens

  • Origination: Pontomedullary region
  • Purpose: Eye movement with the lateral rectus (abduct!)
  • Innervation: Motor
  • Test: EOM
Tidbit: Hallmark sign is a horizontal diplopia, greater at distance, with an abduction deficit. It is the most common ischemic vascular palsy.

CNVII - Facial

  • Origination: Pontomedullary region
  • Purpose: Facial expression, taste, anterior ⅔ of tongue, lacrimation, and salivation
  • Branches: (from superior to inferior)
    • Posterior auricular branch
    • Temporal branches
    • Zygomatic branches
    • Buccal branches
    • Mandibular branches
    • Cervical branches
  • Mnemonic: Party to Zanzibar by motor car! Try using your hand to imagine the distribution.
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  • Innervation: Both
  • Test: Smile, frown, puff out cheeks. Close eyes shut.
Tidbit: 7th nerve palsy is also known as Bell’s palsy.

CNVIII - Vestibulocochlear

  • Origination: Pontomedullary region
  • Purpose: Hearing and equilibrium (just like how the name sounds)
  • Innervation: Sensory
  • Test: Make light sound next to each ear

CNIX - Glossopharyngeal

Glosso (tongue), pharyn (throat) geal
  • Origination: Medulla oblongata
  • Purpose: Taste, posterior ⅓ of tongue, swallowing, salivation, and sensory information from the carotid sinus.
  • Innervation: Both, at the pharynx
  • Test: Say aaaaAaaa and uvula should move up. Check gag reflex.

CNX - Vagus

  • Origination: Medulla oblongata
  • Purpose: Taste, swallowing, palate elevation, speech, slowing heart rate
  • Innervation: Both
  • Test: Assess speech and swallow.
Tidbit: It is the longest nerve. Think “vandering”.

CNXI - Accessory

  • Origination: Medulla oblongata and cervical spinal cord
  • Purpose: Head turning and shoulder shrugging
  • Innervation: Motor, at the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscle
  • Test: Move head side to side, up and down. Shrug shoulders.

CNXII - Hypoglossal

Hypo (under), glossal (tongue)
  • Origination: Medulla oblongata
  • Purpose: Tongue movement
  • Innervation: Motor
Test: Move tongue side to side

Want this as a cheat sheet, with a handy grid of mnemonics? Head back up to download!

Huda Minhas, OD
About Huda Minhas, OD

Dr. Huda Minhas received a bilingual Doctorate of Optometry at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, with an honors undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto. She currently practices in Sacramento at an MD-OD clinic that specializes in cataract surgery, ocular diseases, and secondary/tertiary care. Her philosophy is that healthy eyes are important to one's overall health, wellness, and well-being. In her spare time, Dr Minhas enjoys weightlifting, fine cuisine, and hiking.

Huda Minhas, OD
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