Nerve/Origin

Olfactory (I)
(telencephalo
n)

Optic (II)
(diencephalon
)
Oculomotor
(III)
(midbrain)

Trochlear
(IV)
(midbrain)
Abducens
(VI)
(Pons)

Route
Axons of bipolar
neurons form olfactory
nerves which go thru
cribiform plate of
ethmoid bone and end
in the olfactory bulb
Through optic canal
runs with ophthalmic
artery
Through lateral wall of
cavernous sinus enters
orbit via superior orbital
fissure

Through lateral wall of

cavernous sinus and
into orbit thru superior
orbital fissure
Through the cavernous
sinus with internal
carotid artery and
enters orbit via superior
orbital fissure

Branches

Sensory
Smell

Motor

Parasympathetics

Sight
Superior Division
Inferior Division

Levator Palpebrae
Superioris and
Superior Rectus
Medial and
Inferior Rectus,
Inferior Oblique

Superior Oblique
Muscle
Lateral Rectus

Branch from inferior division via

parasympathetic (motor) root of
the ciliary ganglion enter ciliary
galnglion postganglionics to
the ciliary muscle and spincter
of pupil via short ciliary nerves

Facial (VII)
(Pons)
Second
Branchial
Arch

Through internal
acoustic meatus with
vestibulocochlear
nerve, into facial canal
and goes laterally
through petrous portion
of temporal bone until
middle ear (tympanic
cavity). Then it turns
backward genu at
location of geniculate
ganglion (sensory cell
bodies). When reaches
posterior wall of middle
ear, it turns downward
and exits via
stylomastiod foramen

Facial Proper:

Branch to
stapedius in facial
canal, after exits
stylomastoid
foramen branches
to posterior
auricular and post
belly
digastrics/stylohy
oid, then in
parotid gland
gives off
temporal,
zygomatic,
buccal,
mandibular, and
cervical branches

Through facial
canal, exits
stylohyoid
foramen and
enters substance
of parotid gland

Nervus
Intermedius:
Greater
petrosal nerve
Exits at level of
geniculate
ganglion, hiatus
of greater
petrosal nerve,
foramen lacerum,
ptergyoid canal
(+ deep petrosal
nerve)
Pterygopalatie
ganglion/fossa
Nervus
Intermedius:
Chorda Tympani
facial canal

Taste to hard
and soft
palates via
greater and
lesser
palatine
nerves (V2)

Preganglionics synapse in
Pterygopalatine ganglion
(hanging from V2) and send
postanglionic parasympathetics
through the following nerves:
1) Greater/lesser palatine
2) Posterior Nasal
3) Nasopalatine
4) Zygomatic takes to
lacrimal gland via lacrimal
nerve (V1)

With lingual
nerve, Taste
to anterior
2/3 of tongue

Preganglionics travel with lingual

nerve to the submandibular
ganglion, where they synapse
and follow the lingual nerve to

Vestibulococ
hlear (VIII)
(Pons)
Glossophary
gneal
(IX)
(Medulla
Oblongata)
Third
Branchial
Arch

Enters internal acoustic

meatus with the facial
nerve
Emerges from postolivary sulcus, gains
sensory fibers from
petrous and superior
ganglia, exit the jugular
foramen

tympanic cavity
just before
stylomastoid
foramen, inner
surface of
tympanic
membrane (over
malleolus)
pterygotympanic
fissure
infratemporal
fossa
Vestibular
Cochlear

Tympanic
Enters tympanic cavity,
tympanic plexus, hiatus
of the lesser petrosal
nerve, foramen ovale,
infratemporal fossa,
auriculotemporal nerve
(V3), and facial nerve

Contains:
1) postganglionic
sympathetic
fibers (superior
cervical ganglion)
2) Twig of facial
nerve
3) Sensory
4)Preganglionic
Parasympathetics
Carotid

1) Submandibular gland
2) Sublingual gland
3) Linugal gland

Balance
Hearing

Sensory to
the tympanic
cavity
(pain from
the middle
ear can be
referred from
or to the
tonsils)

Sensory from
baroreceopto

Parasympathetics travel through

the tympanic plexus and
reconverge as the lesser
petrosal nerve. This descends
through hiatus of lesser petrosal
nerve and exits skull via
foramen ovale infratemporal
fossa. Here, the preganglionic
parasympathetics synapse in
otic ganglion. Postganglionic
fibers then run with
auriculotemporal and facial
nerves to the parotid gland

rs/chemorec
eptors from
the carotid
sinus/body
Motor
Pharyngeal

Lingual
Vagus (X)
(Medulla
Oblongata)
4-6th
Branchial
Arches

Exits via post-olivary

sulcus and descends to
jugular foramen, where
it receives sensory
fibers from the superior
and inferior ganglia.
Exits via jugular
foramen.

Meningeal Branch
Auricular Branch

Carotid Branch

Aortic Branch

Pharyngeal

To the
stylopharyngeus
muscle
Sensory to
mucosa of
pharynx and
palatine
tonsils
To posterior
1/3 of the
tongue
Sensory to
the dura
mater
External
acoustic
meatus to
the tympanic
membrane
Sensory from
baroreceopto
rs/chemorec
eptors from
the carotid
sinus/body
Sensory from
baroreceopto
rs/chemorec
eptors from
the aortic
arch/body
Sensory to

Motor to the

the Pharynx.

Superior
Laryngeal
A) Internal
Pierces thyrohyoid
membrane, with
superior laryngeal
artery
B) Exterior
Runs with
superior thyroid a.

Larynx
vocal cords,
and Taste to
epiglottis
and
valleculae of
the tongue

Recurrent
Laryngeal

Sensory of
larynx below
vocal cords

muscles of the
pharynx (except
stylopharyngeus
IX)
and palate
(except tensor of
the palate (V3)

Cricothyroid
muscle and
cricopharyngeus
portion (internal
constrictor
All muscles of
larynx (except
cricothyroid)

Branches below
the Laryngeal
Nerves
Accessory
(XI)
(Medulla
Oblongata)
Branchial
arches
beyond 6
Hypoglossal
(XII)
Medulla

Carry preganglionic
parasympathetics to the thoracic
viscera and abdominal organs
(fore- and midgut

Ascends from C3-C4

between dorsal and
ventral rootlets, enters
foramen magnum, exits
skull via jugular
foramen

Sternocleidomast
oid and Trapezius

Emerges from preolivary sulcus in line

with ventral roots of

All intrinsic and

extrinsic muscles
of tongue (except

Oblongata

spinal nerves. Leaves

skull by hypoglossal
canal tongue

palatoglossus
vagus)

Other Notes:
Cell bodies of general sensory neurons (pseudounipolar) are in ganglia of: Trigeminal (V), Facial (VII),
Glossopharyngeal (IX), and Vagus (X)
Taste neurons (pseudounipolar) are located in the ganglia of: Facial (VII), Glossopharyngeal (IX), and Vagus (X)
Nerves 9-11 (IX-XI) exit the jugular foramen!!
Branchiomeric Cranial Nerves (carry special visceral efferent/ branchial motor fibers):
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Trigeminal Branchial Arch 1

Facial Branchial Arch 2
Glossopharyngeal Branchial Arch 3
Vagus Branchial Arch 4-6
Accessory Theoretical arches beyond 6

Trigeminal Nerve First Branchial Arch

Division

Branches

Opthalmic
Division (V1)

Frontal

Through
lateral wall
of cavernous
sinus and

Lacrimal

Further
Branches
Supratrochle
ar
Supraorbital
(larger and
more lateral)
---------------------

Route

Sensory

Above trochlea/Thru
supraorbital foramen

To scalp and upper

eyelid, to vertex of
scalp

Above lateral rectus

To lacrimal gland and

upper eyelid

Motor

Parasympathetics

To lacrimal gland from

zygomatic of V2 (from

supraorbital
fissure

Nasociliary

Long Ciliary
Posterior
Ethmoidal

Thru posterior
ethmoidal foramen

Anterior
Ethmoidal

Anterior ethmoidal
foramen, through
cribiform plate to
cranial cavity,
through nasal slit,
and to external nasal
branch
Under trochlea

Infratrochlear
Maxillary
Division (V2)
Thru lateral
wall of
cavernous
sinus and
through
foramen
rotundum to
the
ptergyopalat
ine fossa
Maxillary
(V3)

Sensory fibers to
cornea

Greater and
Lesser Palatine
(from
pterygopalatin
e ganglion)

Thru greater and

lesser palatine
foramina

Posterior Nasal
(pterygopalati
ne g
Nasopalatine
(pteyrgopalati
ne ganglion)

From ganglion and

thru Sphenopalatine
foramen
From ganglion and
thru
Sphenopalatine
foramen and incisive
foramen

Zygomatic

Zygomaticofac
ial

Posterior ethmoidal air

cells and sphenoidal
air sinus
Anterior/Middle
ethmoidal air cells,
meninges, anterior
nasal septum and ant.
nasal wall, posterior
of nose skin
Middle corner of upper
eyelid, side of nose
Sensory to hard and
soft palate
Carry taste to hard
and soft palates from
pterygopalatine
ganglion (VII greater
petrosal)
Sensory to posterior
nasal septum/walls

Thru alveolar canals

Parasympathetic
branches to mucosa of
hard and soft palate
mucous

To nasal glands

To nasal septum,
anterior hard palate

To nasal/palatine
glands

To zygomatic and
temporal regions of
face

To lacrimal gland via

lacrimal nerve V1

Zygomaticote
mporal
Superior

greater petrosal of VII)

***SYMPATHETICS to
the dilator of pupil and
vasculature of eye

To teeth and gums, and

Alveolar
Infraorbital

Mandibular
Division (V3)

maxillary sinus
Inferior orbital
fissure, Infraorbital
groove, foramen,
canal TERMINAL
BR.

To lower eyelid,
anterior cheek, upper
lip, nasal vestibule,
side of nose
To muscles of
mastication,
ant. belly of
digastric and
mylohyoid, to
tensor of
palate and
tensor
tympani

Motor
Branches

Through
foramen
ovale to the
infratempora
l fossa
Meningeal

Runs with middle

meningeal artery
through the foramen
spinosum

Buccal

To dura mater

To corner of mouth and

inside of mouth
To the external ear and
scalp over temporal
region
Temporalmandibular
joint (TMJ!!!!!)

Auriculotempo
ral

Splits around the

middle meningeal
artery, reforms and
runs to parotid gland

Inferior
Alveolar

Mandibular foramen,
mandibular canal,
mental foramen
mental nerve

Lower teeth and gums,

and lower chin

Lingual

Runs near 3rd molar

and duct of
submandibular gland

Sensory to anterior 2/3

tonuge
Taste from chorda
tympanii

Carries postganglionic
parasympathetics
from IX from lesser
auricular and delivers
to facial parotid
gland
Gives off
motor
branch to
mylohyoid &
ant.
digastrics
(submandibular
ganglion) from chorda
tympani
submandibular,

sublingual and lingual

glands)