Cranial nerve innervation:


    motor nucleus muscle/gland cranial nerve (#)
  • hypoglossal tongue XII
  • abducens lateral rectus VI
  • trochlear superior oblique IV
  • oculomotor remaining oculomotor III

    muscles plus the levator palpebre

  • Edinger-Westphal ciliary ganglion III

    (ciliary body, iris sphincter)

  • facial muscles of facial VII

    expression etc.

  • ambiguus pharynx IX
  • ambiguus larynx X
  • motor V muscles of mastication V

    plus tensor tympani,

    tensor palatini, digastric

  • dorsal motor ganglia innervating the X

    heart, lungs, G.I. tract

  • salivatory n. submandibular (salivary) VII

    & pterygopalatine (lacrimal
    glands) ganglia

  • salivatory n. otic ganglia IX
    (to salivary glands)


Edinger-Westphal and salivatory nuclei are parasympathetic;
remainder are sympathetic nuclei

Mnemonic: "On old Olympus' towering top, a fine and grand view sprang high." Hey, it's not great verse, but it works!

Last updated Aug 29, 1998, 11:20 a.m.