Cranial nerves (mnemonic)

Last revised by Henry Knipe on 2 Aug 2021

There are many cranial nerve mnemonics that can be memorable and rude/lewd. Either way, they can be helpful for remembering the names of the twelve cranial nerves, as well as remembering which nerves are sensory, motor, or both.

Remembering cranial nerve names in order of CN I to CN XII:

  • On old Olympus's towering top a Finn and German viewed some hops 2
  • Ooh, ooh, ooh to touch and feel very good velvet. Such heaven!

Remembering functional information:

S: sensory; m: motor; b: both

  • Some say marry money but my brother says big brains matter more
  • Some say my mother bought my brother some bad beer, my, my

Mnemonics

On old Olympus's towering top a Finn and German viewed some hops

Ooh, Ooh, Ooh, to touch and feel very good velvet. Such heaven!
Some say marry money but my brother says big brains matter more

Some say my mother bought my brother some bad beer, my, my
  • S: sensory (olfactory nerve - CN I)
  • S: sensory (optic nerve - CN II)
  • M: motor (oculomotor nerve - CN III)
  • M: motor (trochlear nerve - CN IV)
  • B: both (trigeminal nerve - CN V)
  • M: motor (abducens nerve - CN VI)
  • B: both (facial nerve - CN VII)
  • S: sensory (vestibulocochlear nerve - CN VIII)
  • B: both (glossopharyngeal nerve CN IX)
  • B: both (vagus nerve - CN X)
  • M: motor (spinal accessory nerve - CN XI)
  • M: motor (hypoglossal nerve - CN XII)

If you write out the mnemonic for remembering the names next to the mnemonic for their function then they will align giving you an easier way to remember both the cranial nerve names and their function. 

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