The 12 Cranial Nerves
| I – Olfactory nerve | V – Trigeminal nerve | IX – Glossopharyngeal nerve |
| II – Optic nerve | VI – Abducens nerve | X – Vagus nerve |
| III – Oculomotor nerve | VII – Facial nerve | XI – Accessory nerve/Spinal accessory nerve |
| IV – Trochlear nerve | VIII – Vestibulocochlear nerve/Auditory nerve | XII – Hypoglossal nerve |
35 Mnemonics for Cranial Nerve Names
1. Oh, Oh, Oh, They Traveled And Found Voldemort Guarding Very Ancient/(Secret) Horcruxes
2. OLd OPrah’s OCcupation: TROpical TRIps ABoard FAmous VESsels, GLamorous VAcations, ACCumulating HYPe
3. OLd OPie Opened The TRunk And Found VEry Green Vestiges And Hemp
4. OLd OPie OCcasionally TRies TRIGonometry And Feels VEry GLOomy, VAGUe, And HYPOactive
5. On Occasion Our Trusty Truck Acts Funny. Very Good Vehicle Any How
6. On Old Olympus’ Towering Tops A Friendly Viking Grew Vines and Hops
7. On Old Olympus’ Towering Top A Finely Vested German Viewed A Hawk
8. On Old Olympus’ Towering Top A Finn And German Viewed Some Hops
9. On Old Olympus’ Towering Top A Fat Ass German Vaults And Hops
10. On Old Olympus’ Towering Top A Finn And German Vault And Hop:(Note that the Vestibulocochlear nerve is referred to by its former name, Auditory, in this mnemonic.)
11. OLympic OPium OCcupies TROubled TRIathletes After Finishing VEgas Gambling VAcations Still High
12. Oliver the optimistic octopus trots triumphantly about facing audiences glossily vaguely spinning hippos.: (Note that the accessory nerve is referred to by its alternative name Spinal accessory nerve, and the Vestibulocochlear nerve by its former name, Auditory, in this mnemonic.)
13. O! O! O! There’s The Abercrombie and Fitch. Very Gorgeous and Very Adorable! Ha!
14. Orange orangutans often try to avoid feeding angry gorillas very ancient hotdogs.:(Note that the Vestibulocochlear nerve is referred to by its former name, Auditory, in these mnemonics.)
15. On Old Olympus’ Tufted Top A Fat Armed German Viewed An Hop
16. Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel Very Good Velvet. Such Heaven!:(Note that the accessory nerve is referred to by its alternative name Spinal accessory nerve in this mnemonic.)
17. Oh Once One Takes The Anatomy Final Very Good Vacations Are Heavenly
18. OOO Truly There Are Five Very Gorgeous Vixens Awaiting Him
19. One Of Our Two Timing Adults Found Very Good Values At Home.
20. One Of Our Telugu Teachers Asked For Very Good Vada And Halwa. By Vyas Manan
21. Orlando’s Overweight Octopuses Try To Avoid Fuddrucker’s And Grabbing Vienna Sausage Hamburgers
22. On Our Overseas Trip To Argentina Found Very Grand Villas And Huts
23. Oh Old Ouranos The Terrifying Almighty, Fearsome And Godly, Viewed All Heavenward
24. Oh Once One Takes The Anatomy Final Very Good Vacations Are Heavenly.
25. Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel A Girl’s Vagina Soft And Hairy
26. One Of Our Teachers Touched And Felt Virgin Girl’s Vagina And Hymen
27. Oh, Oh, Oh, Take That Are Fab Very Good Verses And Harmonies
28. Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel Very Green Vegetables. And Honda!
29. “OLiver OPposed OCcupying TRinidad, TRIGgering A Fight VErsus Germany’s VAluable Attack Helicopters” – M. Afana
30. Olivia Optically Occupied Tensed Testis And Finally Visited Glamorous Vegas Acting Horny.
31. Oh Oh Oh To Touch And Feel Very Green Vegetables AH
32. One Of Our Team Tickled And Fingered Very Greasy Vaginas And Holes
33. Obviously Once One Takes The Anatomy Final, Very Good Vodka Alleviates Heartache
34. Oh Oh Oh To Touch And Feel Very Glossy Very Abundant Hair
35. Oh Oh Oh The Trio Are Facing Very Glossy Very Accessorized Hippogriffs
Cranial Nerve Testing:
CN I Olfactory: This nerve controls the sense of smell. Place a strong smelling item under each nostril individually and ask the person to identify it.
CN II Optic: This nerve controls vision. Display an eye chart to the test subject, and hold items to the side of their head to test their peripheral vision.
CN III Oculomotor: This controls eye movement upward, downward and inward, as well as narrowing and dilation of the pupils in response to light. Have the test subject follow a moving target, such as the tester’s finger. Then shine a light in each pupil to test reaction to light.
CN IV Trochlear: This controls the movement of the eye downward and inward. Have the test subject follow a moving target with their eye.
CN V Trigeminal: Controls facial sensation and chewing. Gently test areas of the face using the pin and the wisp of cotton. Subject should clench their teeth and then open their jaw against resistance.
CN VI Abducens: This controls the abductor muscles of the eye, which move the eye outward. Have the person look to the side.
CN VII Facial: This nerve controls the muscles of facial expression, plus taste on the front two-thirds of the tongue. Test the muscles by having the subject open and close their mouth, open their eyes and squeeze their eyes shut. Use the sweet, salty, sour and bitter items to test taste.
CN VIII Vestibulocochlear: This nerve controls hearing and balance. Test hearing with a tuning fork and have the test subject walk a straight line.
CN IX Glossopharyngeal/CN X Vagus: These nerves control swallowing, gag reflex and speech and so are tested the same way. (The vagus nerve also controls internal organs such as the heart and digestive tract. Have the test subject swallow and say “ah.” The tester can touch the back of the person’s throat with a tongue depressor to check the gag reflex.
CN XI Accessory: This nerve innervates the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles, which control neck turning and shoulder shrugging. The test subject should turn their head and lift their shoulders against resistance.
CN XII Hypoglossal: This nerve controls tongue movement. The test subject should stick out their tongue.
