Cranial Nerves
, 1. Olfactory Nerve (CN I)
The origin of this nerve is in the roof of the ‘Nasal Cavity’. The structures that are being
supplied by the Olfactory N. is the Nasal Cavity. The fibers are ‘Special Visceral Afferent’.
The function is for picking up smell. Therefore, this cranial nerve is only Sensory (It is taking
sensory information up via the nasal cavity to the brain).
The holes it is going through, olfactory foramina of the cribriform plate of the
ethmoid bone, and takes it to the olfactory bulb in the frontal lobe.
Origin: Roof of the Nasal Cavity
Supplied: Nasal Cavity
Fibers: Special Visceral Afferent (SVA)
Function: Picking up smell
S/M/B: Sensory
2. Optic Nerve (CN II)
The origin of the Optic Nerve is the ‘Retina’. It supplies the eye from visual information by
photoreceptors by taking sensory information to the nervous system. The fibers are ‘Special
Sensory Afferent’ . the function is to allow for vision.
The hole is called ‘optic canal’ to the optic chiasma, to the lateral genetic nucleus and
finally to the occipital lobe where the visual cortex is located.
Origin: Retina
Supplied: Visual information by photoreceptors
Fibers: Special Sensory Fibers
Function: Vision
S/M/B: Sensory
3. Oculomotor Nerve (CN III)
The origin of the Oculomotor Nerve is the ‘Midbrain’. The structures that this nerve is
supplying are: 1. Superior Rectus 2. Levator Palpabra Superioris 3. Inferior Rectus 4.
Inferior Oblique 5. Medial Rectus. It is also supplying the Pupil and the Ciliaris.
This nerve has two different types of fibers ‘General Somatic Efferent’ (GSE) are the somatic
motor ones and the ‘General Visceral Efferent’ (GVE) from the parasympathetic nervous
system (Eddinger Westfall Nucleus). The function of this cranial nerve is Eye Movement and
Eye Lid Movement (elevating the upper eye lid), Accommodation (changing the shape of the
lens and controlling of the Pupil Size.
The hole is called Superior Orbital Fissure
Origin: Midbrain
Supplied: Superior Rectus, Levator Palpabra Superioris, Inferior Rectus, Inferior Oblique,
Medial Rectus, Pupil and Ciliaris.
Fibers: General Somatic Efferent (GSE) and General Visceral Efferent (GVE)
Function: Eye movement, Eyelid movement, Accommodation and control Pupil size.
S/M/B: Motor
, 1. Olfactory Nerve (CN I)
The origin of this nerve is in the roof of the ‘Nasal Cavity’. The structures that are being
supplied by the Olfactory N. is the Nasal Cavity. The fibers are ‘Special Visceral Afferent’.
The function is for picking up smell. Therefore, this cranial nerve is only Sensory (It is taking
sensory information up via the nasal cavity to the brain).
The holes it is going through, olfactory foramina of the cribriform plate of the
ethmoid bone, and takes it to the olfactory bulb in the frontal lobe.
Origin: Roof of the Nasal Cavity
Supplied: Nasal Cavity
Fibers: Special Visceral Afferent (SVA)
Function: Picking up smell
S/M/B: Sensory
2. Optic Nerve (CN II)
The origin of the Optic Nerve is the ‘Retina’. It supplies the eye from visual information by
photoreceptors by taking sensory information to the nervous system. The fibers are ‘Special
Sensory Afferent’ . the function is to allow for vision.
The hole is called ‘optic canal’ to the optic chiasma, to the lateral genetic nucleus and
finally to the occipital lobe where the visual cortex is located.
Origin: Retina
Supplied: Visual information by photoreceptors
Fibers: Special Sensory Fibers
Function: Vision
S/M/B: Sensory
3. Oculomotor Nerve (CN III)
The origin of the Oculomotor Nerve is the ‘Midbrain’. The structures that this nerve is
supplying are: 1. Superior Rectus 2. Levator Palpabra Superioris 3. Inferior Rectus 4.
Inferior Oblique 5. Medial Rectus. It is also supplying the Pupil and the Ciliaris.
This nerve has two different types of fibers ‘General Somatic Efferent’ (GSE) are the somatic
motor ones and the ‘General Visceral Efferent’ (GVE) from the parasympathetic nervous
system (Eddinger Westfall Nucleus). The function of this cranial nerve is Eye Movement and
Eye Lid Movement (elevating the upper eye lid), Accommodation (changing the shape of the
lens and controlling of the Pupil Size.
The hole is called Superior Orbital Fissure
Origin: Midbrain
Supplied: Superior Rectus, Levator Palpabra Superioris, Inferior Rectus, Inferior Oblique,
Medial Rectus, Pupil and Ciliaris.
Fibers: General Somatic Efferent (GSE) and General Visceral Efferent (GVE)
Function: Eye movement, Eyelid movement, Accommodation and control Pupil size.
S/M/B: Motor
