Cranial Nerves | Autonomic Nervous System - There are twelve
cranial nerves. They exit the brain in an orderly fashion. Two,
olfactory and optic, are located in the telencephalon. Two,
occulomotor and trochlear, are located in the midbrain. Four,
trigeminal, abducens, facial and acoustovestibular, are located
in the pons. The remaining four, glossopharyngeal, vagus,
accessory and hypoglossal are located in the medulla. - It is
most useful however to discuss them, not related to location,
but rather as to function. - There are three cranial nerves with
primarily sensory function. Link to Sensory. Cranial nerve I,
Olfactory, modulates smell, cranial nerve II, Optic,modulates
vision. Cranial nerve VIII, Acoustovestibular, modulates hearing
and balance. - There are four cranial nerves with primarily
motor function. Link to Corticobulbar. CN IV, Trochlear,
innervates the superior oblique muscle of the eyeball. CN VI,
Abducens, innervates the lateral rectus muscle of the eyeball
and abducts the eye. CN XI, Accessor