Cranial nerves
Cranial nerves: The nerves of the brain, which emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium), as opposed to the spinal nerves, which emerge from the vertebral column. There are 12 cranial nerves, each of which is accorded a Roman numeral and a name:
Cranial nerve I: the olfactory nerve
Cranial nerve II: the optic nerve
Cranial nerve III: the oculomotor nerve
Cranial nerve IV: the trochlear nerve
Cranial nerve V: the trigeminal nerve
Cranial nerve VI: the abducent nerve
Cranial nerve VII: the facial nerve
Cranial nerve VIII: the vestibulocochlear nerve
Cranial nerve IX: the glossopharyngeal nerve
Cranial nerve X: the vagus nerve
Cranial nerve XI: the accessory nerve
Cranial nerve XII: the hypoglossal nerve
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