Twelve pairs of cranial nerves appear symmetrically from the base of the brain. They are mainly connected to regions of the head and neck, including the eyes, ears, mouth, and throat. They are either motor or sensory nerves.
| NUMBER | NAME OF NERVE | FUNCTION |
|---|---|---|
| I | OLFACTORY | Smell |
| II | OPTIC | Vision |
| III | OCULOMOTOR | Eye movement; Pupil dilation |
| IV | TROCHLEAR | Eye movement |
| V | TRIGEMINAL | Sensory information from the face and head; chewing muscles |
| VI | ABDUCENS | Eye Movement |
| VII | FACIAL | Taste; Sensory information from ear; Controls facial muscles |
| VIII | VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR | Hearing; Balance |
| IX | GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL | Taste; Sensory information from tongue, tonsil, pharynx; Controls some swallowing muscles |
| X | VAGUS | Sensory, motor and autonomic functions of internal organs |
| XI | SPINAL ACCESSORY | Controls muscles used to move the head |
| XII | HYPOGLOSSAL | Controls tongue muscles |