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Neurology Neuroanatomy Beginner

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Cranial Nerves Sensory vs Motor: Rhyme

SOME

SAY

MARRY

MONEY

BUT

BROTHER

SAYS

BIG

BRAINS

MATTER

The world-famous mnemonic for remembering the functional modality (Sensory, Motor, or Both) of all 12 cranial nerves in order.

Cranial nerves I through XII exhibit specialized sensory afferents, motor efferents, or mixed branchial/somatic functions.

Systematic Breakdown

CN I (Olfactory

Some (Sensory)

Smell sensation from olfactory neuroepithelium through cribriform plate.

CN II (Optic

Say (Sensory)

Visual afferents from retina to optic chiasm and lateral geniculate nucleus.

CN III (Oculomotor

Marry (Motor)

Motor to SR, IR, MR, IO, levator palpebrae, plus parasympathetic pupillary constriction.

CN IV (Trochlear

Money (Motor)

Motor to Superior Oblique muscle (intorsion and depression when eye is adducted).

CN V (Trigeminal

But (Both)

Sensory to face (V1, V2, V3) and motor to muscles of mastication (masseter, temporalis, pterygoids).

CN VI (Abducens

My (Motor)

Motor to Lateral Rectus muscle (abduction of the eye).

CN VII (Facial

Brother (Both)

Motor to muscles of facial expression, taste anterior 2/3 tongue, lacrimal/salivary secretions.

CN VIII (Vestibulocochlear

Says (Sensory)

Hearing (cochlear) and balance/equilibrium (vestibular).

CN IX (Glossopharyngeal

Big (Both)

Taste and sensation posterior 1/3 tongue, swallowing (stylopharyngeus), carotid body/sinus chemo/baroreceptors.

CN X (Vagus

Brains (Both)

Autonomic parasympathetics to thorax/abdomen, palate/larynx motor (speech and swallowing).

CN XI (Accessory

Matter (Motor)

Motor to sternocleidomastoid (head turning) and trapezius (shoulder shrug).

CN XII (Hypoglossal

More (Motor)

Motor to all intrinsic and extrinsic tongue muscles (except palatoglossus).

High-Yield Clinical Pearls & Exam Tips

CN III, VII, IX, X carry parasympathetic autonomic fibers ('1973' rule).
Tongue deviation: On protrusion, tongue deviates TOWARD the side of a CN XII lower motor neuron lesion ('lick the lesion').

Related Pharmaceuticals

Pilocarpine Atropine

Related Clinical Conditions

Bell Palsy Trigeminal Neuralgia Horner Syndrome

Authoritative Sources: Snell's Clinical Neuroanatomy 8e · First Aid USMLE Step 1