Cranial Nerves

There are 12 paired cranial nerves which arise from the brain or brainstem and which are responsible for a variety of critical neurological sensory and motor functions. They include:
CN I – olfactory nerves; for olfaction (sense of smell)
CN II – optic nerves; for sight
CN III – oculomotor nerves; for most eye movements
CN IV – trochlear nerves; for moving the eyes down and inward
CN V – trigeminal nerves; for facial sensation and muscles of mastication (chewing muscles)
CN VI – abducens nerves; for moving the eyes outward
CN VII – facial nerves; for facial muscle innervation
CN VIII – vestibulo-cochlear nerves – for hearing and balance
CN IX – glossopharyngeal nerves – for sensation of the posterior 1/3 of the tongue, tonsils and pharnynx, for swallowing and the gag reflex and for parasympathetic innervation of the parotid gland
CN X – vagal nerves – for muscles in the mouth and larynx and for parasympathetic innervation of many organs in the body
CN XI – spinal accessory nerves – for neck movements through the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles
CN XII – hypoglossal nerves – for tongue movements