PNS EXAM 1 PALMER | COMPLETE PRACTICE QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & STUDY
GUIDE 2026/2027
There are ______ pairs of cranial nerves and they attach __________ to the ____________ -
correct answer ✔✔12; directly; brain
Cranial nerves exit the skull via ___________ openings - correct answer ✔✔patent
There are ____ pairs of spinal nerves - correct answer ✔✔31 pairs
What are the four unique characteristics of the trochlear nerve? - correct answer ✔✔Smallest
CN; Only CN with origin on the posterior side of brainstem; only CH that decussates; Travels the
farthest through the cranial vault
What nerve supplies the superior oblique? - correct answer ✔✔Trochlear nerve (CN IV)
What cranial nerve is the "great sensory nerve of the face"? - correct answer ✔✔Trigeminal
What CN is the largest cranial nerve? - correct answer ✔✔Trigeminal
What nerve supplies the lateral rectus? - correct answer ✔✔Abducens
What nerve is the "Nerve of Facial Expression" - correct answer ✔✔Facial Nerve (C.N. VII)
What nerve carries taste information to the anterior 2/3 of the tongue? - correct answer
✔✔Facial Nerve (CN VII)
,What nerve carries sensory information from the cochlea and vestibule? - correct answer
✔✔Vestibulocochlear Nerve (CN VIII)
What nerve carries taste information from the posterior 1/3 of the tongue? - correct answer
✔✔Glossopharyngeal Nerve (CN IX)
The glossopharyngeal nerve is the motor supply to what muscle? - correct answer
✔✔Stylopharyngeus
What nerve is the longest of the cranial nerve? - correct answer ✔✔Vagus nerve (CN X)
What nerve supplies parasympathetic supply to the bronchi, heart , and GI tract from the
esophagus to distal 1/3 of the transverse colon? - correct answer ✔✔Vagus Nerve (CN X)
What muscles does CN XI supply? - correct answer ✔✔Muscles of the pharynx, larynx, and
palate (cranial part). Trapezius and SCM (spinal part).
Which CN's exit the skull via the jugular foramen? - correct answer ✔✔CN IX, X, XI
Which CN's exit the skull via the SOF? - correct answer ✔✔CN III, IV, V1, VI
Where do CN's VII and VIII exit the skull? - correct answer ✔✔Internal acoustic meatus
What are the primary sensory neurons for CN 1 called? - correct answer ✔✔Olfactory Neurons
Where are the primary sensory neurons for cranial nerve 1 found? - correct answer
✔✔Olfactory epithelium lining superior part of the nasal cavity
, Olfactory neuron axons are ________________, however are covered by ____________ -
correct answer ✔✔unmyelinated; schwann cells
Olfactory nerves pass through the __________________ enter the _______________ and
synapse on the ___________________. _______________________ are formed on these
synapses - correct answer ✔✔Cribriform plate; olfactory bulb; dendrites of the mitral cells;
synaptic glomeruli
What are the secondary sensory neurons for CN 1 called? - correct answer ✔✔Mitral cells
Where are mitral cell bodies found? - correct answer ✔✔The olfactory bulb
Where do mitral cells relay information? - correct answer ✔✔posterior via the olfactory tract
Where do the olfactory tract fibers split and what do they split into? - correct answer
✔✔Anterior perforated substance; medial and lateral olfactory striae
Medial stria fibers _________ the midline via the ____________ and travel to the
________________________________ - correct answer ✔✔cross; anterior commissure;
opposite olfactory bulb
Lateral stria carry information to the __________________,______________ and ___________,
including the _________ on the medial aspect of the ________________ - correct answer
✔✔primary olfactory complex; periamygdaloid; prepiriform area; uncus (bdmn area 34);
temporal lobe
What are the three layers f the eye? - correct answer ✔✔Fibrous, Vascular and Retina
What does the fibrous tunic consist of? - correct answer ✔✔Sclera and Cornea
GUIDE 2026/2027
There are ______ pairs of cranial nerves and they attach __________ to the ____________ -
correct answer ✔✔12; directly; brain
Cranial nerves exit the skull via ___________ openings - correct answer ✔✔patent
There are ____ pairs of spinal nerves - correct answer ✔✔31 pairs
What are the four unique characteristics of the trochlear nerve? - correct answer ✔✔Smallest
CN; Only CN with origin on the posterior side of brainstem; only CH that decussates; Travels the
farthest through the cranial vault
What nerve supplies the superior oblique? - correct answer ✔✔Trochlear nerve (CN IV)
What cranial nerve is the "great sensory nerve of the face"? - correct answer ✔✔Trigeminal
What CN is the largest cranial nerve? - correct answer ✔✔Trigeminal
What nerve supplies the lateral rectus? - correct answer ✔✔Abducens
What nerve is the "Nerve of Facial Expression" - correct answer ✔✔Facial Nerve (C.N. VII)
What nerve carries taste information to the anterior 2/3 of the tongue? - correct answer
✔✔Facial Nerve (CN VII)
,What nerve carries sensory information from the cochlea and vestibule? - correct answer
✔✔Vestibulocochlear Nerve (CN VIII)
What nerve carries taste information from the posterior 1/3 of the tongue? - correct answer
✔✔Glossopharyngeal Nerve (CN IX)
The glossopharyngeal nerve is the motor supply to what muscle? - correct answer
✔✔Stylopharyngeus
What nerve is the longest of the cranial nerve? - correct answer ✔✔Vagus nerve (CN X)
What nerve supplies parasympathetic supply to the bronchi, heart , and GI tract from the
esophagus to distal 1/3 of the transverse colon? - correct answer ✔✔Vagus Nerve (CN X)
What muscles does CN XI supply? - correct answer ✔✔Muscles of the pharynx, larynx, and
palate (cranial part). Trapezius and SCM (spinal part).
Which CN's exit the skull via the jugular foramen? - correct answer ✔✔CN IX, X, XI
Which CN's exit the skull via the SOF? - correct answer ✔✔CN III, IV, V1, VI
Where do CN's VII and VIII exit the skull? - correct answer ✔✔Internal acoustic meatus
What are the primary sensory neurons for CN 1 called? - correct answer ✔✔Olfactory Neurons
Where are the primary sensory neurons for cranial nerve 1 found? - correct answer
✔✔Olfactory epithelium lining superior part of the nasal cavity
, Olfactory neuron axons are ________________, however are covered by ____________ -
correct answer ✔✔unmyelinated; schwann cells
Olfactory nerves pass through the __________________ enter the _______________ and
synapse on the ___________________. _______________________ are formed on these
synapses - correct answer ✔✔Cribriform plate; olfactory bulb; dendrites of the mitral cells;
synaptic glomeruli
What are the secondary sensory neurons for CN 1 called? - correct answer ✔✔Mitral cells
Where are mitral cell bodies found? - correct answer ✔✔The olfactory bulb
Where do mitral cells relay information? - correct answer ✔✔posterior via the olfactory tract
Where do the olfactory tract fibers split and what do they split into? - correct answer
✔✔Anterior perforated substance; medial and lateral olfactory striae
Medial stria fibers _________ the midline via the ____________ and travel to the
________________________________ - correct answer ✔✔cross; anterior commissure;
opposite olfactory bulb
Lateral stria carry information to the __________________,______________ and ___________,
including the _________ on the medial aspect of the ________________ - correct answer
✔✔primary olfactory complex; periamygdaloid; prepiriform area; uncus (bdmn area 34);
temporal lobe
What are the three layers f the eye? - correct answer ✔✔Fibrous, Vascular and Retina
What does the fibrous tunic consist of? - correct answer ✔✔Sclera and Cornea
