 Midbrain – the trochlear nerve (IV) comes from the posterior side of the midbrain.

n. It has the longest intracranial length

of all the cranial nerves.
 Midbrain-pontine junction – oculomotor (III).
 Pons – trigeminal (V).
 Pontine-medulla junction – abducens, facial, vestibulocochlear (VI-VIII).
 Medulla Oblongata – posterior to the olive: glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory (IX-XI). Anterior to the olive:
hypoglossal (XII).

Sensory (afferent) Modalities:

 General somatic AFFERENT (GSA) – general sensation from skin.
 General visceral AFFERENT (GVA) – general sensation from viscera.
 Special somatic AFFERENT (SSA) – senses derived from ectoderm (sight, sound, balance).
 Special visceral AFFERENT (SVA) – senses derived from endoderm (taste).
Motor (efferent) Modalities:
 General somatic EFFERENT (GSE) – skeletal muscles.
 General visceral EFFERENT (GVE) – smooth muscles of gut and autonomic motor.
 Special visceral EFFERENT (SVE) – muscles derived from pharyngeal arches.
 Number Name Exit Modality Function
1 (CNI) Olfactory Cribriform plate Sensory Smell
(SVA)
2 (CNII) Optic Optic canal Sensory Vision
(SSA)
3 (CNIII) Oculomotor Superior orbital Motor GSM: 4 extrinsic eye muscles and levator
fissure (GSE & GVE) palpebrae superioris.
GVM: pupillary sphincter
4 (CNIV) Trochlear Superior orbital Motor Superior oblique
fissure (GSE)
5 (CNV) Trigeminal:
Ophthalmic Superior orbital GSA Scalp, forehead and nose.
fissure
Maxillary F. rotundum GSA Cheeks, lower eye lid, nasal mucosa,
upper lip, upper teeth and palate.
Mandibular F. ovale GSA GSS: anterior 2/3 tongue, skin over
SVE mandible and lower teeth.
SVM: muscles of mastication.
6 (CNVI) Abducens Superior orbital Motor Lateral rectus
fissure (GSE)
7 (CNVII) Facial Internal acoustic Both: GSS: sensation to part of ext. ear.
meatus > GSA SVS: taste from ant. 2/3 tongue, hard and
stylomastoid f. SVAP soft palate.
GSE
GVE GSM: muscles of facial expression.

GVM: lacrimal, submandibular, sublingual

glands and mucous glands of mouth and
nose.
8 (CNVIII) Vestibulocochlear Internal acoustic Sensory Hearing and balance
meatus (SSA)
9 (CNIX) Glossopharyngeal Jugular f. Both: GSS: post. 1/3 tongue, ext. ear, and
GSA middle ear cavity.
GVA GVS: carotid body and sinus.
SVA
GVE SVS: taste from post. 1/3 tongue.
SVE
GVM: parotic gland. SVM:
stylopharyngeus
10(CNX) Vagus Jugular f. Both: GSS: ext. ear, larynx and pharynx.
GSA GVS: larynx, pharynx and, thoracic &
GVA abdominal viscera.
SVA
GVE SVS: taste from epiglottis region of tongue
SVE
GVM: smooth muscles of pharynx, larynx
and most of the GIT.

SVM: most muscles of pharynx and larynx.

11 (CNXI) Spinal accessory Jugular f. Motor GSM: trapezius and sternocleidomastoid.
(GSE & SVE) SVM: a few fibres run with CNX to viscera.
12 (CNXII) Hypoglossal Hypoglossal canal Motor Intrinsic and extrinsic tongue muscles
(GSE) (except the palatoglossus).