1. Olfactory Nerve
Contains special sensory neurons. This nerve detects smell molecules, called odorants, using nerve endings in the roof of the nasal cavity.

2. Optic Nerve
Contains special sensory neurons. This nerve detects light using nerve endings at the front of the retina in the eye. As the nerves on each side travel to the cerebrum, they partially cross (also called 'decussate') at a structure called the optic chiasm. This means that the left side of the cerebrum is responsible for processing the right visual fields, and vice versa.

3. Oculomotor Nerve
Contains general motor neurons. This nerve provides motor innervation to four of the six 'extraocular muscles' which move the eyeball in the eye socket, namely inferior rectus, superior rectus, medial rectus and inferior oblique. However, this nerve is also responsible for dilating (sympathetic) and constricting (parasympathetic) the pupil.

4. Trochlear Nerve
Contains general motor neurons. This nerve provides motor innervation to one of the six 'extraocular muscles', called the superior oblique muscle. This muscle is responsible for turning the eyeball down and out (also called depression and abduction).

5. Trigeminal Nerve
Contains general sensory neurons. This nerve carries sensory information from the anterior and lateral sides of the face. The fibres detect pain, temperature, touch and pressure. This nerve also contains special motor neurons – these fibres provide motor control to the muscle of mastication (i.e. the four main muscles involved in chewing, namely, temporalis, masseter, lateral pterygoid and medial pterygoid). These muscles have a special 'visceral' embryological origin.

6. Abducent nerve (also called 'abducens')
Contains general motor neurons. This nerve provides motor innervation to one of the six 'extraocular muscles', called the lateral rectus muscle. This muscle is responsible for turning the eye inwards (also called adduction).

7. Facial nerve
Contains special motor neurons. This nerve provides motor control to the muscles of facial expression (examples include the muscles surrounding the mouth and eye, namely orbicularis oris and orbicularis oculi). These muscles also have a unique 'visceral' embryological origin. This nerve also contains general motor neurons – these provide motor control to the lacrimal (eye) and certain salivary (sublingual and submandibular) glands in the mouth. This nerve also contains special sensory neurons, that receive taste information from the anterior two thirds of the tongue (i.e. the main, flat surface of the tongue that comes into contact with food during chewing).

8. Vestibulocochlear nerve
Contains special sensory neurons. This nerve receives sound information via the cochlea. It also receives balance/position information from the semicircular canals.

9. Glossopharyngeal nerve
Contains special motor neurons. This nerve provides motor innervation to one of the pharyngeal muscles, called stylopharyngeus. It also contains general visceral motor neurons that provide motor control to one of the salivary glands, called the parotid gland. This nerve also contains special sensory neurons – these receive taste information from the posterior third of the tongue (i.e. the part that lies vertically).

10. Vagus nerve
Contains general sensory neurons. This nerve receives sensory information from the thoracic and abdominal organs. It also contains general motor neurons – provide motor innervation to the thoracic and abdominal organs. Taste from the epiglottis is carried by this nerve too.

11. Spinal accessory nerve
Contains special motor neurons. This nerve provides motor control to muscles of the neck (specifically trapezius and sternocleidomastoid).

12. Hypoglossal nerve
Contains general motor neurons. This nerve provides motor control to most of the muscles of tongue (i.e. all the intrinsic and most of the extrinsic muscles. The most important extrinsic muscles are the paired genioglossi muscles).

The Goofy Anatomist

Brain