Comprehensive High-Yield Review of Cranial Nerves: Anatomy, Exits, Functions, Clinical Lesions, Bell’s Palsy, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Vestibular Disorders, and Lower Cranial Nerve Pathologies Verified Questions Provided with A+ Graded Rationales Latest Upda

Comprehensive High-Yield Review of Cranial
Nerves: Anatomy, Exits, Functions, Clinical
Lesions, Bell’s Palsy, Trigeminal Neuralgia,
Vestibular Disorders, and Lower Cranial
Nerve Pathologies Verified Questions
Provided with A+ Graded Rationales Latest
Updated 2026
what cranial nerves are found in the midbrain?

CN 1-4

what cranial nerves are found in the pons?

CN 5-8

what cranial nerves are found in the medulla?

CN 9-12

Olfactory nerve

CNI

the nerve that carries smell impulses from the nose to the brain (sense of smell)

- bilateral, enter through the cribiform plate and synapse onto the olfactory bulbs

Where does the CNI exit?

cribiform plate

Anosmia

absence of the sense of smell

- head trauma, tumors, viral infections, neurodegeneration

- COVID

Anosmia will often present with the loss of what other cranial nerve?

CN II (visual acuity)

- because both at the base of the frontal lobes

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, Optic nerve

CN II

carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain

- pupillary light reflex and visual acuity

Trigeminal nerve

CNV

- V1 = ophthalmic → superior orbital fissure

- V2 = maxillary → foramen rotundum

- V3 = mandibular → foramen ovale

***muscles of mastication

***general somatosensory of the face

Trochlear nerve

CN IV

- Motor to superior oblique

oculomotor nerve

CN III

- Motor to levator palpebrae superior, superior rectus, inferior rectus, medial rectus, inferior
oblique

"down and out"

where does V1 exit?

superior orbital fissure

"standing room only"

where does V2 exit?

foramen rotundum

"standing room only"

where does V3 exit?


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