List of mnemonics for the cranial nerves

Cranial Nerves
CN I – Olfactory
CN II – Optic
CN III – Oculomotor
CN IV – Trochlear
CN V – Trigeminal
CN VI – Abducens
CN VII – Facial
CN VIII – Vestibulocochlear
CN IX – Glossopharyngeal
CN X – Vagus
CN XI – Spinal Accessory
CN XII – Hypoglossal

Contents

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:

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:

Other variations have been composed more informally by individual persons and propagated to attain widespread notability, such as the ones below:

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:

  1. Cleaners Only Spray Smelly Stuff Right On Smelly Idiots In J. Jonah Jameson High
  2. Carl Only Swims South. Silly Roger Only Swims In Infiniti Jacuzzis. Jane Just Hitchhikes.
  3. Carlos Only Smokes Spliff Since Rastaman Offered Skunk In Indigenous Jamaica. Jamaican Joint Heaven.

References

  1. ^ Kenneth Saladin, Human Anatomy (Rex Bookstore, 2007) p440
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ Caroline Bunker Rosdahl and Mary T. Kowalski, Textbook of Basic Nursing (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007) p194