List of mnemonics for the cranial nerves
As one author has noted, "Generations of biology and medical students have relied on mnemonic (memory-aiding) phrases and ditties, ranging from sublimely silly to the unprintably ribald, to help them remember the cranial nerves..."[1]
The cranial nerves are:
- I - Olfactory nerve
- II - Optic nerve
- III - Oculomotor nerve
- IV - Trochlear nerve/pathic nerve
- V - Trigeminal nerve/dentist nerve
- VI - Abducens nerve
- VII - Facial nerve
- VIII - Vestibulocochlear nerve/Auditory nerve
- IX - Glossopharyngeal nerve
- X - Vagus nerve
- XI - Accessory nerve/Spinal accessory nerve
- XII - Hypoglossal nerve
Mnemonics for the nerves
A mnemonic uses, at the least, the first letter of each of the 12 nerves, in order. Examples listed below are those that have been published in textbooks:
- On Old Olympus' Towering Top, A Finn And German Viewed Some Hops[2]
- Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel A Girl's Very Soft Hands
Other variations have been composed more informally by individual persons and propagated to attain widespread notability, such as the ones below:
- On Old Olympus' Towering Top, A Friendly Viking Grew Vines And Hops
- Oh Once One Takes The Anatomy Final Very Good Vacations Are Heavenly.
- Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel Virgin Girl's Vagina And Hymen
- Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel Very Good' Velvet Aah Hah
- Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel Very Good Vibes AHhhh
- Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Fondle a Gorgeous Very Super Human
- Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel Very Green Vegetables, Such Heaven
- Oh, Oh, Oh, To Take A Family Vacation! Go Vegas After Hours
- Oh, Oh, Oh, They Traveled And Found Voldemort Guarding Very Secret Horcruxes/Hallows
- Old Opie Occasionally Tries Trigonometry And Feels Very Gloomy, Vague And Hypoactive
- Old Oprah Occasionally Trots Triumphantly About, Farting Velveeta Globs, Vaunting Accolades Hysterically
- Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel Vintage Green Velvet, Simply Heaven
- Old, Oliver, Ogg, Traveled, To, Africa, For, Very, Good, Vacations, And, Holidays
- On Occasion, Oliver Tries To Anally Fuck Various Guys. Vaginas, Are History!
- Once On October Thirteenth, Troublesome Abductors Filched Various Golden Valuables And Heirlooms
- Oh, Oh, Oh, Tubby Teens And Fresh Virgins Give Very Awful Head
Because such mnemonics are typically obscene or ridiculous in nature, they are often found to be useful because they are easy to remember.
Mnemonics for the type of nerve
Mnemonics for the type of nerve or its function rely upon the letters S, M and B for sensory, motor or both. The mnemonics to remember the types of cranial nerves can be chosen from:
S = Sensory
M= Motor
B= Both (sensory + motor)
A common mnemonic for the functions of the first through twelfth nerves, is "Some Say Marry Money, But My Brother Says Big Business Makes Money." [3]
Another common variation of this is "Some Say Marry Money, But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter Most." (or Big/Bouncy Boobs) (or Big Bucks)
OR: "Some Say Money Matters, But My Brother Says Big Boobs Matter More." (or Bouncy Boobs) OR: "Some Say Money Matters, But My Brother Says Baked Brownies Matter Most." OR: "Some Say Mind Matters, But My Brother Says Big Boobs Matter More." (or Bouncy Boobs) OR: ″Silly Superman Made Mortal Brothers Make Bets Since Both Boys Made Money" OR: ″Some Say Money Matters, But My Beloved Says Being Beloved Matters More."
Or to include the three Trigeminal branches: Some say money matters, some say men, but my brother says big brains matter most.
Mnemonics for the foramina
To remember the skull foramina (plural of foramen) from which exit the 12 cranial nerves, the following statements may be used:
- Cleaners Only Spray Smelly Stuff Right On Smelly Idiots In J. Jonah Jameson High
- Carl Only Swims South. Silly Roger Only Swims In Infiniti Jacuzzis. Jane Just Hitchhikes.
- Carlos Only Smokes Spliff Since Rastaman Offered Skunk In Indigenous Jamaica. Jamaican Joint Heaven.
- for Cribriform plate (Olfactory), Optic canal (Optic), Superior Orbital Fissure (Oculomotor), Superior Orbital Fissure (Trochlear), Superior Orbital Fissure (Trigeminal - Ophthalmic), Foramen Rotundum (Trigeminal - Maxillary), Foramen Ovale (Trigeminal - Mandibular), Superior Orbital Fissure (Abducens), Internal Acoustic Meatus (Facial), Internal Acoustic Meatus (Vestibulocochlear), Jugular Foramen (Glossopharyngeal), Jugular Foramen (Vagus), Jugular Foramen (Accessory), Hypoglossal Canal (Hypoglossal)
References
- ^ Kenneth Saladin, Human Anatomy (Rex Bookstore, 2007) p440
- ^ Textbook of Basic Nursing by Caroline Bunker Rosdahl and Mary T. Kowalski (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007) p194; Medical Terminology for Dummies by Beverley Henderson and Jennifer Dorsey (For Dummies, 2008) p327
- ^ Caroline Bunker Rosdahl and Mary T. Kowalski, Textbook of Basic Nursing (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007) p194