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How to Learn the 12 Cranial Nerves

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Many anatomy classes will require students to learn, in order, the twelve cranial nerves. A quick internet search will reveal several mnemonic devices to learn them, though I tend to fall back on the one I used back in college, which sticks because it also rhymes:

“On Old Olympus Towering Top A Finn and German Viewed A Hop”

  1. Olfactory
  2. Optic
  3. Oculomotor
  4. Trochlear
  5. Trigeminal
  6. Abducens
  7. Facial
  8. Auditory (Vestibulocochlear)
  9. Glossopharyngeal
  10. Vagus
  11. Accessory (Spinal)
  12. Hypoglossal

Cranial Nerves Coloring

The sheep brain below has many parts labeled and shows the cranial nerves. Number the cranial nerves appropriately. Color each part according to the keys.

cranial nerves.png

Olfactory bulb and tract (purple)
Optic Nerve and Chiasma (dark green)
Oculomotor (dark blue)
Trochlear (gray)
Trigeminal (pink)
Abducens (orange)
Facial (yellow)
Vestibulocochlear / Auditory (red)
Glossopharyngeal (black)
Vagus (brown)
Accessory / Spinal Accessory (dark blue)
Hypoglossal (orange)Cerebellum (light green)

Cerebrum (light blue)
Pons (red)
Medulla Oblongata (purple)

Human Brain Coloring

Number the cranial nerves appropriately. Color each part according to the key. This picture is not labeled, you may use other resources to help you locate the structures.

human brain.png

Olfactory bulb and tract (purple)
Optic Nerve and Chiasma (dark green)
Oculomotor (dark blue)
Trochlear (gray)
Trigeminal (pink)
Abducens (orange)
Facial (yellow)
Vestibulocochlear / Auditory (red)
Glossopharyngeal (black)
Vagus (brown)
Accessory / Spinal Accessory (dark blue)
Hypoglossal (orange)

Cerebellum (light green)
Cerebrum (light blue)
Pons (red)
Medulla Oblongata (purple)


This page titled How to Learn the 12 Cranial Nerves is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Shannan Muskopf (Biology Corner) .

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