cranial nerve

/ˈkreɪniəl ˌnʌrv/

Other forms: cranial nerves

Definitions of cranial nerve

1. noun

   any of the 12 paired nerves that originate in the brain stem
   types:

   first cranial nerve, nervii olfactorii, olfactory nerve

   a collective term for numerous olfactory filaments in the nasal mucosa

   nervus opticus, optic nerve, optic tract, second cranial nerve

   the cranial nerve that serves the retina

   nervus oculomotorius, oculomotor, oculomotor nerve, third cranial nerve

   supplies extrinsic muscles of the eye

   fourth cranial nerve, trochlear, trochlear nerve, trochlearis

   either of the two cranial nerves on either side that control the superior oblique muscles of the eyes

   fifth cranial nerve, nervus trigeminus, trigeminal, trigeminal nerve, trigeminus

   the main sensory nerve of the face and motor nerve for the muscles of mastication

   abducens, abducens nerve, abducent, abducent nerve, nervus abducens, sixth cranial nerve

   a small motor nerve supplying the lateral rectus muscle of the eye

   facial, facial nerve, nervus facialis, seventh cranial nerve

   cranial nerve that supplies facial muscles

   acoustic nerve, auditory nerve, eighth cranial nerve, nervus vestibulocochlearis, vestibulocochlear nerve

   a composite sensory nerve supplying the hair cells of the vestibular organ and the hair cells of the cochlea

   glossopharyngeal nerve, nervus glossopharyngeus, ninth cranial nerve

   sensory nerve to the pharynx and back of the tongue; motor fibers innervate muscles that elevate the pharynx and larynx; includes parasympathetic fibers to the otic ganglion

   nervus vagus, pneumogastric, pneumogastric nerve, tenth cranial nerve, vagus, vagus nerve, wandering nerve

   a mixed nerve that supplies the pharynx and larynx and lungs and heart and esophagus and stomach and most of the abdominal viscera

   accessory nerve, eleventh cranial nerve, nervus accessorius, spinal accessory

   arises from two sets of roots (cranial and spinal) that unite to form the nerve

   hypoglossal, hypoglossal nerve, nervus hypoglosus, twelfth cranial nerve

   supplies intrinsic muscles of the tongue and other tongue muscles

   type of:

   nerve, nervus

   any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body