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Quizzes > Health & Medicine > Human Anatomy & Medicine

Cranial Nerves Quiz: Can You Label and Match All 12?

Jump into this labeling cranial nerves quiz and match each to its main function!

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Jitisha YadavUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for cranial nerves quiz on a golden yellow background

This cranial nerves quiz helps you label all 12 nerves and match each one to its main function. Practice for class or boards, build recall fast, and jump between the quick label practice or the full review when you want more.

Which cranial nerve is responsible for the sense of smell?
Facial nerve (VII)
Olfactory nerve (I)
Trigeminal nerve (V)
Optic nerve (II)
The olfactory nerve (cranial nerve I) transmits smell information from the nasal epithelium directly to the brain. It is unique among cranial nerves in its direct connection to the limbic system. Damage to this nerve can lead to loss of smell (anosmia). For more details, visit .
The optic nerve is cranial nerve number what?
III
II
IV
I
The optic nerve is cranial nerve II and is responsible for transmitting visual signals from the retina to the brain. It is part of the central nervous system and is myelinated by oligodendrocytes. Injury to this nerve can result in visual field defects. Learn more at .
Which cranial nerve innervates the lateral rectus muscle of the eye?
Trigeminal nerve (V)
Trochlear nerve (IV)
Abducens nerve (VI)
Oculomotor nerve (III)
The abducens nerve (VI) innervates the lateral rectus muscle, enabling abduction of the eye. A lesion of this nerve causes an inability to move the eye laterally and results in medial deviation. It travels through the cavernous sinus before exiting the skull. For more information, see .
The trigeminal nerve primarily provides which type of function?
Mastication muscles and facial sensation
Facial expression
Vision
Phonation
The trigeminal nerve (V) supplies motor fibers to the muscles of mastication and sensory fibers to the face, scalp, and oral cavity. It has three main branches: ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular. Damage leads to loss of facial sensation and chewing difficulties. More at .
Which cranial nerve controls the muscles of facial expression?
Abducens nerve (VI)
Facial nerve (VII)
Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)
Trigeminal nerve (V)
The facial nerve (VII) innervates all muscles of facial expression. It also carries taste fibers from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and provides parasympathetic fibers to lacrimal and salivary glands. Dysfunction results in facial droop (Bell's palsy). Read more at .
The glossopharyngeal nerve carries taste sensation from which part of the tongue?
Posterior one-third
Anterior two-thirds
Entire tongue
Lingual tonsils only
The glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) transmits taste from the posterior one-third of the tongue and provides sensory innervation to the oropharynx. It also contributes to swallowing and salivation. Injury can impair taste and the gag reflex. Details at .
The vagus nerve exits the skull through which foramen?
Hypoglossal canal
Foramen rotundum
Foramen ovale
Jugular foramen
The vagus nerve (X) exits the posterior cranial fossa via the jugular foramen alongside cranial nerves IX and XI. It provides extensive parasympathetic innervation to thoracic and abdominal organs. Lesions here affect swallowing, voice, and autonomic functions. More info at .
Parasympathetic fibers to the heart and digestive tract are carried by which cranial nerve?
Oculomotor nerve (III)
Facial nerve (VII)
Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
Vagus nerve (X)
The vagus nerve (X) carries parasympathetic fibers that slow heart rate and stimulate digestive activity. It supplies thoracic and abdominal viscera. Loss of vagal tone can cause tachycardia and impaired digestion. More at .
Damage to the abducens nerve causes what deficit?
Inability to abduct the eye
Drooping of the eyelid
Loss of pupillary constriction
Difficulty elevating the eye
The abducens nerve (VI) innervates the lateral rectus muscle. Injury results in medial deviation of the eye at rest and inability to abduct the eye on attempted lateral gaze. Patients often present with horizontal diplopia. Learn more at .
The primary function of the glossopharyngeal nerve is:
Smell
Eye movement
Hearing
Taste from posterior tongue and swallowing
The glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) conveys taste from the posterior one-third of the tongue and provides motor fibers for swallowing. It also monitors carotid body chemoreceptors. Lesions impair taste and the gag reflex. More info at .
Which nerve mediates the afferent limb of the corneal reflex?
Facial nerve (VII)
Oculomotor nerve (III)
Trigeminal nerve (V)
Accessory nerve (XI)
The ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve (V1) carries sensory input from the cornea to the brainstem. The efferent limb is via the facial nerve (VII), which causes orbicularis oculi contraction. Loss of this reflex indicates trigeminal involvement. See .
The hypoglossal nerve innervates which muscle group?
Pharyngeal constrictors
Facial expression muscles
Tongue muscles
Extraocular muscles
The hypoglossal nerve (XII) provides motor innervation to intrinsic and extrinsic tongue muscles. A lesion causes tongue deviation toward the side of the lesion upon protrusion. It exits the skull via the hypoglossal canal. More details at .
Which nerve exits the skull via the internal acoustic meatus alongside the facial nerve?
Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)
Olfactory nerve (I)
Trigeminal nerve (V)
Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
The vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII) and the facial nerve (VII) share the internal acoustic meatus. The VIII nerve carries auditory and balance information from the inner ear. Pathology here can cause hearing loss and vertigo. More at .
The accessory nerve provides motor innervation to which muscles?
Masseter and temporalis
Lateral rectus and superior oblique
Pharyngeal constrictors
Sternocleidomastoid and trapezius
The spinal part of the accessory nerve (XI) innervates the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles, enabling head rotation and shoulder elevation. It exits the skull through the jugular foramen. Lesions cause weakness turning the head away from the lesion. Details at .
A lesion in the abducens nerve nucleus in the pons will result in which gaze palsy?
Vertical gaze palsy
Convergence failure
Contralateral lateral gaze palsy
Ipsilateral lateral gaze palsy
The abducens nucleus controls ipsilateral lateral gaze by innervating the lateral rectus and coordinating with the contralateral medial rectus via the medial longitudinal fasciculus. A lesion causes inability to look toward the side of the lesion. Vertical gaze remains intact. More at .
Taste fibers of the facial nerve synapse in which nucleus?
Trigeminal nucleus
Solitary nucleus
Facial motor nucleus
Vestibular nucleus
Taste fibers from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue carried by the chorda tympani join the facial nerve and synapse in the solitary nucleus. This nucleus processes visceral sensory input, including taste. Lesions here affect gustatory function. See .
Which cranial nerve is the only one to emerge dorsally from the brainstem?
Trochlear nerve (IV)
Trigeminal nerve (V)
Abducens nerve (VI)
Oculomotor nerve (III)
The trochlear nerve (IV) is the only cranial nerve that emerges from the dorsal aspect of the brainstem at the level of the inferior colliculus. It innervates the superior oblique muscle and decussates within the brainstem. Lesions cause vertical diplopia. More info at .
Which sensory ganglion is associated with the trigeminal nerve?
Spiral ganglion
Semilunar (Gasserian) ganglion
Geniculate ganglion
Superior ganglion of X
The semilunar (or Gasserian) ganglion houses the cell bodies of sensory fibers for all three divisions of the trigeminal nerve. It lies in Meckel's cave near the petrous part of the temporal bone. Pathology here causes trigeminal neuralgia. More at .
The nerve that conveys sensory information from the carotid body and sinus is which?
Vagus nerve (X)
Facial nerve (VII)
Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
Mandibular branch of V (V3)
The glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) carries baroreceptor afferents from the carotid sinus and chemoreceptor afferents from the carotid body to the solitary nucleus. This regulates blood pressure and respiratory drive. Lesions can disrupt cardiovascular reflexes. Details at Glossopharyngeal nerve function - Wikipedia.
Through which foramen does the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve exit the skull?
Foramen rotundum
Foramen ovale
Foramen lacerum
Foramen spinosum
The maxillary nerve (V2) exits the middle cranial fossa via the foramen rotundum to enter the pterygopalatine fossa. It provides sensory innervation to the midface. Injury can lead to loss of sensation in this region. More at .
The geniculate ganglion is associated with which cranial nerve?
Facial nerve (VII)
Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)
Trigeminal nerve (V)
The geniculate ganglion contains the sensory cell bodies for taste fibers and somatic afferents of the facial nerve (VII). It is located in the facial canal of the temporal bone. Lesions cause taste disturbance and facial pain. See .
The pharyngeal branch that contributes to the swallowing muscles is part of which nerve?
Hypoglossal nerve (XII)
Accessory nerve (XI)
Vagus nerve (X)
Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
The pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve (X) forms the pharyngeal plexus with XI and IX to innervate most swallowing muscles. Damage leads to dysphagia and nasal regurgitation. This branch exits via the jugular foramen. More at .
In Wallenberg (lateral medullary) syndrome, compromise of the nucleus ambiguus leads to loss of which reflex?
Gag reflex
Pupillary light reflex
Jaw-jerk reflex
Corneal reflex
The nucleus ambiguus houses motor neurons for cranial nerves IX and X, mediating the efferent limb of the gag reflex. Lateral medullary infarct injures this nucleus, abolishing the gag response on the ipsilateral side. Pupillary and corneal reflexes are mediated by different nuclei. Details at .
A schwannoma at the cerebellopontine angle will most likely affect which two cranial nerves first?
Oculomotor (III) and Trochlear (IV)
Trigeminal (V) and Abducens (VI)
Glossopharyngeal (IX) and Vagus (X)
Facial (VII) and Vestibulocochlear (VIII)
Vestibular schwannomas arise from Schwann cells of the vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII) at the cerebellopontine angle, often compressing the adjacent facial nerve (VII). Symptoms include hearing loss and facial weakness. Other cranial nerves are affected later. Read more at .
Which parasympathetic nucleus is associated with the oculomotor nerve?
Dorsal motor nucleus of vagus
Inferior salivatory nucleus
Edinger-Westphal nucleus
Superior salivatory nucleus
The Edinger-Westphal nucleus supplies preganglionic parasympathetic fibers via the oculomotor nerve (III) to the ciliary ganglion, controlling pupil constriction and lens accommodation. A lesion causes a dilated pupil and loss of near response. Other parasympathetic nuclei are linked to different cranial nerves. See .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Cranial Nerves -

    Understand and recall the names and Roman numeral designations of all 12 cranial nerves, ensuring accurate recognition in both written and clinical contexts.

  2. Label Anatomical Diagrams -

    Accurately place each cranial nerve on detailed head and brainstem illustrations, reinforcing spatial awareness of their origins and exit points.

  3. Match Nerves to Functions -

    Associate each cranial nerve with its primary sensory, motor, or mixed role, sharpening your ability to link structure to physiological function.

  4. Describe Modalities -

    Explain the sensory, motor, or autonomic modalities of each nerve in concise terms, facilitating deeper understanding of their composite responsibilities.

  5. Differentiate Clinical Implications -

    Compare and contrast how lesions of specific cranial nerves present clinically, preparing you to anticipate sensory or motor deficits.

  6. Apply Knowledge to Scenarios -

    Use case-based questions to predict patient symptoms resulting from cranial nerve impairment, reinforcing practical application of anatomical knowledge.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Memorize the Sequence -

    Use the classic mnemonic "Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel Very Green Vegetables, AH!" to lock in the order from Olfactory (I) through Hypoglossal (XII). This simple phrase is a powerhouse for acing any cranial nerves quiz and speeds up recall under time pressure. Regular rehearsal makes the sequence second nature and builds exam-day confidence.

  2. Differentiate Function Types -

    Classify each nerve as sensory, motor, or mixed using "Some Say Marry Money, But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter More." For instance, I (Olfactory) is sensory, V (Trigeminal) is mixed, and XII (Hypoglossal) is motor. Spotting these patterns simplifies labeling cranial nerves and functions during practical tests.

  3. Practice Sensory & Motor Tests -

    Associate each nerve with its exam technique: smell vials for I, visual acuity charts for II, corneal reflex for V, and facial expression checks for VII. Simulating these in lab or with peers reinforces pathways and clinical relevance. Hands-on practice turns theoretical knowledge into reliable quiz responses.

  4. Map Nuclei & Pathways -

    Sketch brainstem cross-sections to locate cranial nerve nuclei (e.g., the dorsal nucleus of X in the medulla). Linking each nerve's origin to its path enhances understanding of lesions and symptom presentations. This mapping skill is invaluable for match the cranial nerve with its main function challenges.

  5. Connect Clinical Correlations -

    Relate key pathologies: Bell's palsy (VII palsy), anosmia (I damage), and lateral gaze palsy (VI dysfunction). Recognizing these syndromes bridges anatomy to real-world diagnostics, a strategy favored by top medical schools. Applying clinical examples ensures you'll ace the cranial nerves and functions quiz with deeper insight.

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