1. Learn the name and numerical designation of each of the twelve
The Cranial Nerves and
Cranial Nerve Nuclei
of the Brain Stem
Objectives:
Learn the name and numerical
designation of each of the twelve
cranial nerves
Learn the names and functions of the
cranial nerve nuclei of the brain stem
and the nerves that arise or terminate
in each of these nuclei
Learn the location of each of the cranial
nerve nuclei of the brain stem on the
brain stem model

2. 12 pairs of Cranial Nerves arise from the forebrain
and the brain stem.
I Olfactory Telencephalon
II Optic Diencephalon
Cranial Nerves III through XII
arise from the Brain Stem:
Midbrain
III Oculomotor
IV Trochlear
Pons
V Trigeminal
VI Abducens
VII Facial
Medulla
VIII Vestibulocochlear
IX Glossopharyngeal
X Vagus
XII Hypoglossal
Cranial Nerve XI -
Spinal Accessory Nerve
arises from the Spinal Cord I II
III IV VI V
VII
VIII IX
XII XI X

3. A B dorsal view th c Cranial nerves: OPTIC II p OCULOMOTOR III
Drawing A shows the ventral surface of a model of a dissected human
brain. The cerebral cortex with its underlying white matter
and the cerebellum have been removed.
In the forebrain the caudate (c) and putamen (p) join together
in the anterior, ventral area of the basal ganglia.
Cranial nerves:
OPTIC II
OCULOMOTOR III
TROCHLEAR IV
TRIGEMINAL V
ABDUCENS VI
FACIAL VII
VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR VIII
GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL IX
VAGUS X
HYPOGLOSSAL ROOTLETS XII
SPINAL ACCESSORY XI A c p
B dorsal view c
midbrain th
pons
medulla
spinal
cord
Only the trochlear nerve IV
arises from the dorsal
surface of the brain stem.
It courses around the
midbrain to join III and VI to
enter the orbit. 3

4. Cranial Nerve Nuclei The cranial nerves innervate the head and neck,
Cranial nerve fibers include the same
four “general” functional components
as the spinal nerves :
GSE, GVE, GVA and GSA.
In addition the head contains 1) “special”
visceral sensory organs for olfaction and taste,
2) “special” somatic sensory organs for vision,
audition, and balance, and 3) a “special”
group of muscles embryologically derived
from the branchial arches.
Thus seven functionally-distinct columns of cells
in the brain stem comprise the cranial nerve nuclei:
GSE somatic motor
GVE preganglionic parasympathetic
SVE branchial motor
GVA visceral sensory
SVA olfaction and taste
GSA somatosensory
SSA audition and vestibular function
The model shows
a “dissection” of the
cranial nerve nuclei
in the tegmentum of
the brain stem. 4

5. Edinger Westphal III (not on model) dorsal motor nucleus of X
MOTOR NULCEI IV
GSE SOMATIC MOTOR
oculomotor III
trochlear IV
abducens VI
hypoglossal XII tongue mm.
GVE PARASYMPATHETIC
Edinger Westphal III (not on model)
salivatory nuclei VII, IX
dorsal motor nucleus of X
SVE BRANCHIOMOTOR
motor nuc. V mastication
facial nuc. VII facial expression
nucleus ambiguus IX, X, cXI
pharynx, larynx
accessory sXI
trapezius, sternomastoid V
extraocular mm.
VII VI
VII IX
XII X
Nucleus ambiguus
IX, X and cXI
sXI 5

6. SSA AUDITION AND BALANCE vestibular VIII
V mesencehaplic
SENSORY NULCEI
V principal
sensory
SSA AUDITION AND BALANCE
vestibular VIII
cochlear VIII
GSA SOMATOSENSORY
trigeminal V:
mesencephalic proprioception
principal sensory discriminative touch
spinal pain & temperature
SVA TASTE
nucleus solitarius,
rostral VII, IX, X
GVA PAIN, etc.
nucleus solitarius
caudal IX, X
VIII vestibular
VIII cochlear
rost nuc solitarius
VII, IX, X
caud nuc solitarius
IX, X
V spinal 6

7. Cranial Nerve Nuclei of the Brain Stem
Cranial Nerves
and
Cranial Nerve Nuclei of the Brain Stem F
Question I
Match each cranial nerve nucleus (A - H) with the
appropriate functional designation (1 - 8).
_____ 1. receives pain input from teeth
_____ 2. innervates pharyngeal mm.
_____ 3. receives input from inner ear
_____ 4. Innervates tongue mm.
_____ 5. receives fine tactile input from lips
_____ 6. Innervates mm. of mastication
_____ 7. preganglionic parasympathetic
_____ 8. Innervates extraocular mm. A B G C H I D E 7

8. Cranial Nerves and Cranial Nerve Nuclei of the Brain Stem
ANSWER SHEET
Question I E D C I B G H F