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How to Remember the Cranial Nerves

Are you learning the cranial nerves? Need a way to easily remember the cranial nerves? In this article, I am going to give you two awesome cranial nerve mnemonics to help you remember the order and function of the cranial nerves. One of the mnemonics I made up myself and the other I was taught.

I remember learning the cranial nerves in my anatomy class and I had a hard time just trying to memorize them. I think most people are like you and me and need an easy way to remember. To learn them the best I suggest you:

  • Watch my teaching video (below) on how to remember them
  • Take the Quiz on Cranial Nerves
  • list of cranial nerves in orderMemorize the illustration of the cranial nerves below
  • Print off this article for reference

Video on How to Remember the Cranial Nerves

Diagram of Cranial Nerves

easy way to remember cranial nerves

Function of the Cranial Nerves

  • Cranial Nerve I “Olfactory”: smell (try to remember this by thinking of a stinky factory putting out pollution)
  • Cranial Nerve II “Optic”: vision (optic is another word for eye and your eyes are responsible for vision)
  • Cranial Nerve III “Oculomotor”: moves eyelids, rotates eyeballs, adjust pupils and lens of the eye (oculo deals with the eye and motor mean movement)
  • Cranial Nerve IV “Trochlear”: moves eyeballs
  • Cranial Nerve V “Trigeminal”: largest of all the cranial nerves and responsible for moving facial muscles by chewing and facial sensations
  • Cranial Nerve VI “Abducens”: moves eyeballs
  • Cranial Nerve VII “Facial”: produces tears, allows for taste, form facial expressions, saliva production
  • Cranial Nerve VIII “Vestibulocochlear”: auditory (remember this by the word cochlear…think of cochlear implants that allow people to hear)
  • Cranial Nerve IX “Glossopharyngeal”: swallowing, saliva production, and taste
  • Cranial Nerve X “Vagus”: control PNS (peripheral nervous system)
  • Cranial Nerve XI “Accessory”: allows head and shoulders movement and allows for swallowing
  • Cranial Nerve XII “Hypoglossal”: formulate speech, moving tongue, swallowing

Mnemonic for Order of Cranial Nerves

Old Operators Occasionally Troubleshoot Tricky, Abducted Family Veterans Galloping Valiantly Across History

  • Old: Olfactory
  • Operators: Optic
  • Occasionally: Oculomotor
  • Troubleshoot: Trochlear
  • Tricky: Trigeminal
  • Abducted: Abducens
  • Family: Facial
  • Veterans: Vestibulocochlear
  • Galloping: Glossopharyngeal
  • Valiantly: Vagus
  • Across: Accessory
  • History: Hypoglossal

Mnemonic for Function of Cranial Nerves

Some Say Marry Money But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter More

  • Cranial I: Sensory
  • Cranial II: Sensory
  • Cranial III: Motor
  • Cranial IV: Motor
  • Cranial V: Both (sensory & motor)
  • Cranial VI: Motor
  • Cranial VII: Both (sensory & motor)
  • Cranial VIII: Sensory
  • Cranial IX: Both (sensory & motor)
  • Cranial X: Both (sensory & motor)
  • Cranial XI: Motor
  • Cranial XII: Motor

You may also be interested in: Anatomy & Physiology Quizzes

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