Cranial nerves:

Cranial nerves are nerves that are attached directly to a part of the brain

Nomenclature of these nerves can vary and can be based on different factors:

• appearance = Vagus (‘wanderer’)
• region of innervation (Facial or Hypoglossal)
• function (sensory or motor)
• direction of conduction (‘afferent’ – towards CNS and ‘efferent’ – away from CNS)
• types of tissue innervated (somatic or visceral)

There are 12 bilaterally paired nerves attached to the brain:

1. Olfactory (I)
2. Optic (II)
3. Oculomotor (III)
4. Trochlear (IV)
5. Trigeminal (V)
6. Abducens (VI)