Twelve cranial nerves, twelve questions. This short quiz covers the anatomy, clinical signs, and drugs that most often come up in exams and clinical practice.
- 8 Cranial nerve anatomy questions
- 2 clinical lesion questions
- 2 pharmacology questions
It takes about five minutes. Pick the best answer for each question, then check your score and explanations at the end.
Start Your Cranial Nerves Quiz
#1. Unmyelinated axons of primary olfactory sensory neurons pass into the cranial cavity through which bony opening?
CN I nerve fibers pass through the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone to reach the olfactory bulb.
#2. Somatic motor innervation to the levator palpebrae superioris muscle (responsible for elevating the upper eyelid) is provided by which nerve?
CN III innervates the levator palpebrae superioris as well as superior, inferior, and medial recti and inferior oblique muscles of the eyes.
#3. Which cranial nerve is unique because it emerges from the dorsal (posterior) aspect of the brainstem?
CN IV is the only cranial nerve that exits from the dorsal surface of the brainstem.
#4. The maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve (CN V2) exits the skull through which bony landmark?
CN V2 exits the middle cranial fossa via the foramen rotundum to enter the pterygopalatine fossa.
#5. Which cranial nerve travels through the internal acoustic meatus alongside the Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)?
Both CN VII and CN VIII pass through the petrous temporal bone via the internal acoustic meatus.
#6. Which parasympathetic ganglion receives preganglionic fibers from the Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) to trigger parotid gland secretion?
CN IX sends preganglionic parasympathetic fibers via the lesser petrosal nerve to synapse at the otic ganglion.
#7. The spinal motor roots of the Accessory nerve (CN XI) arise from which region before entering the cranium via the foramen magnum?
CN XI spinal motor fibers originate in the anterior horns of C1-C5, ascend into the cranium via the foramen magnum, and exit via the jugular foramen.
#8. Motor innervation to all intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the tongue, except the palatoglossus, is provided by which nerve?
CN XII innervates all tongue musculature with the single exception of palatoglossus, which is supplied by CN X.
#9. An inability to abduct the left eye past the midline indicates paralysis of which cranial nerve?
CN VI innervates the lateral rectus muscle, which is solely responsible for ocular abduction.
#10. During a physical exam, a patient says “Ah” and their uvula deviates toward the right side. Which nerve is injured?
In CN X lesions, the levator veli palatini fails to elevate the soft palate on the affected side, causing the uvula to pull toward the healthy (contralateral) side.
#11. A patient undergoing treatment for Tuberculosis develops reduced visual acuity and loss of red-green color discrimination. Which drug causes this optic neuropathy (CN II)?
Ethambutol is classically associated with dose-dependent retrobulbar optic neuritis affecting CN II.
#12. Which first-line anticonvulsant reduces voltage-gated sodium channel recovery to manage severe paroxysmal facial pain in Trigeminal Neuralgia (CN V)?
Carbamazepine is the established first-line medical therapy for idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia.
Results
References:
- NCBI StatPearls: Neuroanatomy, Cranial Nerves – A comprehensive overview of cranial nerve origins, foramina pathways, and associated clinical fiber types.
- Cleveland Clinic: Cranial Nerves Function & Anatomy – A clear reference guide detailing all 12 paired cranial nerves, their functions, and common clinical presentations.
- NCBI StatPearls: Trigeminal Neuralgia – In-depth clinical guide on CN V pathophysiology and medical management with sodium channel blockers (Carbamazepine).
