Cranial nerves

Cranial nerves

Cranial nerves are nerves which start directly from the brainstem instead of the spinal cord.

In human anatomy, there are exactly 12 pairs of them:

Olfactory nerve (I)
Optic nerve (II)
Oculomotor nerve (III)
Trochlear nerve (IV)
Trigeminal nerve (V)
Abducens nerve (VI)
Facial nerve (VII)
Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII), sometimes called the auditory nerve
Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
Vagus nerve (X)
Accessory nerve (XI), sometimes called the spinal accessory nerve
Hypoglossal nerve (XII)

Medical students and other students of Anatomy have used various mnemonics for the cranial nerves over the years. Amongst the more well known ones are: Oh Oh Oh, To Touch And Feel A Girl, Very Sexy and Hot or On Old Olympic Towering Tops A Famous Vocal German Viewed Some Hops.