ORGANUM

Cranial Nerve Nuceli and Pathways

This document will not focus on the functions of the cranial nerves. Please see the Cranial nerves document for a indepth explaniation on all cranial nerves.

The cranial nerve nuceli locations (CNIII-CNXII) can easily be remembered by the rule of 2s and 4s - cranial nerves I and II (Olfactory and Optic) are located in the olfactory bulb and occpitial lobe.

Cranial Nerve

Nuceli location/Origin

Exit

I (1) : Olfactory

Forebrain : Olfactory bulb

Cribriform plate

II (2) : Optic

Optic Chiasm, Inferior to hippocampus

Continues as optic tract to the lateral geniculatte nucelus, pretecttal nuceli and superior colliculus

Optic canal

III (3) : Occluomotor

Midbrain, level of superior colliclus

Cavernous sinus

IV (4) : Trochlear

V (5) : Trigeminal

VI (6) : Abducens

VII (7) : Facial

VIII (8) : Vestibulocochlear

IX (9) : Glossopharyngeal

X (10) : Vagus

XI (11) : Accessory

XII (12) : Hypoglossal