Stuck to remember 12 cranial nerves? As a healthcare professional, it is important to remember 12 cranial nerves. But remembering them can be hard! Well, in this blog we will provide you with 12 cranial nerves mnemonic tricks that will help you to turn this hard topic into effortless recall. Whether you are preparing for an exam or performing a neurological evaluation, this carnival nerve mnemonic trick will help you navigate through cranial nerves like a pro. But before that, it is important to know what cranial nerves are.
What are Cranial Nerves?
Cranial nerves are a pair of 12 nerves that pass from the brain to different areas of the head, neck chest, and abdomen. It sends information between the brain and sense organs such as the eyes, ears, nose, and tongue.
The function of cranial nerves is to help us see, taste, smell, hear, and feel. Additionally, it also helps us to blink our eyes, make facial expressions, and tongue movements.
What are the 12 cranial nerves? What are the functions of these nerves?
The 12 cranial nerves and its functions are as follows:
- Olfactory nerve: this cranial nerve is responsible for the sense of smell.
- Optic nerve: Helps us to see by carrying visual information from the retina to the brain.
- Oculomotor Nerve: This cranial nerve is responsible for eye movements such as blinking.
- Trochlear Nerve: This cranial nerve is responsible for eye movements such as moving the eye upward, downward, and back and forth.
- Trigeminal Nerve: this cranial controls muscles for chewing and is responsible for sensory information from the face.
- Abducens Nerve: This cranial nerve is responsible for lateral eye movements such as looking to the side.
- Facial Nerve: This nerve is responsible for facial expressions and also provides taste sensations.
- Vestibulocochlear Nerve: This nerve is responsible for hearing and balance.
- Glossopharyngeal Nerve: This nerve participates in tasting, salivation, and swallowing.
- Vagus Nerve: Controls the functions of the heart, lungs, and digestive tract.
- Accessory nerve: Controls the muscles that are involved in the movement of head, shoulder, and neck movements.
- Hypoglossal nerve: This controls the tongue movement.
Mnemonics to remember 12 Cranial Nerves.
Here are mnemonics for cranial nerves. It is an easy way to remember 12 cranial nerves.
“Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel Very Green Vegetables, Ah Heaven!”
The first alphabet of each word helps you to recall each nerve such as:
Olfactory, Optic, Oculomotor, Trochlear, Trigeminal, Abducens, Facial, Vestibulocochlear, Glossopharyngeal, Vagus, Accessory, Hypoglossal.
Sensory, Motor, or Both?
The cranial nerves can be sensory, motor, or both.
- Sensory
- Motor
- Both
To remember the function of this cranial nerve there is an easy way too. This is the mnemonic to remember cranial nerves function such as:
“Some Say Marry Money But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter More.”
The first alphabet of each word tells us about the function of the cranial nerves which is either sensory, motor, or both.
- Sensory (Olfactory – I)
- Sensory (optic – II)
- Motor (oculomotor – III)
- Motor (trochlear – IV)
- Both (trigeminal – V)
- Motor (abducens – VI)
- Both (facial – VII)
- Sensory (vestibulocochlear – VIII)
- Both (glossopharyngeal – IX)
- Both (vagus – X)
- Motor (spinal accessory – XI)
- Motor (hypoglossal – XII)
Another mnemonic for Cranial Nerve
There is another mnemonic for cranial nerves that helps you to remember each nerve in order such as
“On Old Olympus Towering Top A Fin And German Viewed Some Hopes”
Olfactory (I), Optic (II), Oculomotor (III), Trochlear (IV), Trigeminal (V), Abducens (VI), Facial (VII), Auditory (VIII), Glossopharyngeal (IX), Vagus (X), Sensory (accessory – XI), Hypoglossal (XII).
Conclusion
The cranial nerve mnemonic helps nurses to recall 12 cranial nerves in order and its functions easily. Mastering cranial nerves can be challenging but it should not be overwhelming. mnemonic cranial nerve tricks can help you recall 12 cranial nerves and their functions easily. These memory aids will help you boost your memory, whether you are a new nurse student preparing for exams or a nurse conducting a neurological assessment. Happy learning!
