Cranial Nerves Mnemonic: Names and Function
Cranial Nerves Mnemonic and Functions: Learn the cranial nerves 1-12 in order and their functions using these mnemonics and memory tricks!
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What are the 12 Cranial Nerves?
Cranial nerves are nerves that arise directly from the brain.
There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
This lecture will teach you:
Cranial Nerve Mnemonics
Cranial Nerve Memory Tricks
Cranial Nerve Names
Cranial Nerve Functions
The 12 pairs of cranial nerves include:
Olfactory Nerve (CN I)
Optic Nerve (CN II)
Oculomotor Nerve (CN III)
Trochlear Nerve (CN IV)
Trigeminal Nerve (CN V)
Abducens Nerve (CN VI)
Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Vestibulocochlear Nerve (CN VIII)
Glossopharyngeal Nerve (CN IX)
Vagus Nerve (CN X)
Accessory Nerve (XI)
Hypoglossal Nerve (XII)
Let’s learn how to memorize them!
Cranial Nerves: Mnemonic (Names)
The first mnemonic provides a simple way to remember the names of the cranial nerves in order.
The mnemonic is:
“Only One Of The Two Athletes Felt Very Good, Victorious, And Healthy”
This will help you remember the following:
Only = Olfactory (CN I)
One = Optic (CN II)
Of = Oculomotor (CN III)
The = Trochlear (CN IV)
Two = Trigeminal (CN V)
Athletes = Abducens (CN VI)
Felt = Facial (CN VII)
Very = Vestibulocochlear (CN VIII)
Good = Glossopharyngeal (CN IX)
Victorious = Vagus (CN X)
And = Accessory (XI)
Healthy = Hypoglossal (XII)
Important: You may notice some of the cranial nerves start with the same letter.
How do you know which one to use in the mnemonic?
Read on to find out!
Cranial Nerves: Mnemonic (Function)
The second mnemonic provides a simple way to remember the functions of the cranial nerves.
Cranial nerves can be classified as:
Sensory (S)
Indicated by the words starting with “S” in the mnemonic
Motor (M)
Indicated by the words starting with “M” in the mnemonic
Mixed or Both (B)
Both sensory and motor
Indicated by the words starting with “B” in the mnemonic
The mnemonic is:
“Some Say Marry Money, But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter Most”
This will help you remember the following:
Some = Olfactory (Sensory)
Say = Optic (Sensory)
Marry = Oculomotor (Motor)
Money = Trochlear (Motor)
But = Trigeminal (Both)
My = Abducens (Motor)
Brother = Facial (Both)
Says = Vestibulocochlear (Sensory)
Big = Glossopharyngeal (Both)
Brains = Vagus (Both)
Matter = Accessory (Motor)
Most = Hypoglossal (Motor)
Disclaimer: This mnemonic is commonly used in many medical resources and literature. The publisher neither claims credit nor is there one particular resource to credit.
Cranial Nerves: Names & Function
Let’s bring both mnemonics together.
This will give you the names and functions of all 12 cranial nerves.
Names: “Only One Of The Two Athletes Felt Very Good, Victorious, And Healthy”
Functions: “Some Say Marry Money, But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter Most”
Only (Some) = Olfactory (Sensory)
One (Say) = Optic (Sensory)
Of (Marry) = Oculomotor (Motor)
The (Money) = Trochlear (Motor)
Two (But) = Trigeminal (Both)
Athletes (My) = Abducens (Motor)
Felt (Brother) = Facial (Both)
Very (Says) = Vestibulocochlear (Sensory)
Good (Big) = Glossopharyngeal (Both)
Victorious (Brains) = Vagus (Both)
And (Matter) = Accessory (Motor)
Healthy (Most) = Hypoglossal (Motor)
Cranial Nerves: Memory Tricks
As previously mentioned, some of the cranial nerves begin with the same letter.
How do you remember which cranial nerve to use in the mnemonic?
Use the memory tricks below to help you!
1. Cranial Nerves Starting with “O”
Let’s begin with the cranial nerves that start with the letter “O”:
Olfactory Nerve (CN I)
Optic Nerve (CN II)
Oculomotor Nerve (CN III)
Olfactory: 1 Nose = CN I
The olfactory nerve (CN I) is responsible for the sense of smell.
We have ONE nose.
Therefore, you can remember the olfactory nerve is CN I because we have one (1) nose.
Optic: 2 Eyes = CN II
The optic nerve (CN II) plays a role in vision.
We have TWO eyes.
Therefore, you can remember the optic nerve is CN II because we have two (2) eyes.
Oculomotor: “Motor” = CN III
The oculomotor nerve contains the word “motor”.
Using the mnemonic above, CN III is the only motor nerve among CNs I, II, and III.
Reminder: CN I and CN II are sensory.
Therefore, you can remember the oculomotor nerve is CN III because it contains the word “motor”, and it is the only motor nerve of those three.
2. Cranial Nerves Starting with “T”
Let’s move on to the cranial nerves that start with the letter “T”:
Trochlear Nerve (CN IV)
Trigeminal Nerve (CN V)
Trochlear: “O” in Trochlear and Four
Using the mnemonic above, you know CN IV starts with a “T”.
The only options are the trochlear nerve and trigeminal nerve.
Use the “O” in four and the “O” in trochlear to remember the trochlear nerve is CN IV.
Hint: “O” is the first vowel in both trochlear and four
Trigeminal “I” in Trigeminal and Five
Apply the same memory trick above for the trigeminal nerve!
Use the “I” in five and the “I” in trigeminal to remember the trigeminal nerve is CN V.
Hint: “I” is the first vowel in both trigeminal and five
3. Cranial Nerves Starting with “A”
Let’s move on to the cranial nerves that start with the letter “A”:
Abducens Nerve (CN VI)
Accessory Nerve (CN XI)
Abducens: “Abdusix” = CN VI
Say “abdusix” instead of “abducens” to remember the abducens nerve is CN VI.
Accessory: Accessory = 11 (Pairs)
The word “aCCeSSory” has 2 pairs of consecutive letters (2 Cs and 2 Ss), and the number 11 contains a pair of 1s.
Use the pairs of letters and the pairs of 1s to remember the accessory nerve is CN XI.
4. Cranial Nerves Starting with “V”
Lastly, we have the cranial nerves that start with the letter “V”:
Vestibulocochlear Nerve (CN VIII)
Vagus Nerve (CN X)
Vestibulocochlear: Ear/Equilibrium = Eight (CN VIII)
The vestibulocochlear nerve is responsible for hearing (ear) and equilibrium.
Ear, Equilibrium, and Eight all start with the letter “E”.
This will help you remember the vestibulocochlear nerve is CN VIII.
Vagus: Thorax/Tummy = Ten (CN X)
The vagus nerve primarily innervates organs in the thorax and abdomen (tummy).
Thorax, Tummy, and Ten all start with the letter “T”.
This will help you remember the vagus nerve is CN X.
References
https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/neurologic-examination/how-to-assess-the-cranial-nerves
https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/brain-spinal-cord-and-nerve-disorders/cranial-nerve-disorders/overview-of-the-cranial-nerves
https://teachmeanatomy.info/head/cranial-nerves/summary/
https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/the-12-cranial-nerves