The Cranial Nerves Trivia Quiz

Answer: 12

These twelve nerves originate in the brain, before they split into pairs and pass through apertures in the skull, called foramina. Cranial nerves provide for vision, hearing, balance, smell, taste, tactile sensations of the head, neck, ears, throat and larynx. They also control the muscles of the face, eyes, tongue, and neck areas.

Answer: Olfactory

The olfactory nerve provides nerves cells high up in the inner nose for the identification of odors such as perfumes, flowers, baked pies, etc. However, taste and smell often work in a common, overlapping manner. For some foods such as chocolate the taste buds in the tongue identify the basic flavor as only sweetness.

However, the combination of chocolate with saliva gives off an odor which stimulates the olfactory nerve cells and thus taste and smell provide the brain with the necessary information needed to recognize that the sweetness is actually chocolate.

Answer: Bitter

The taste buds are located on the tongue, in the mouth and in the throat. Certain strong sensations, that also have an odor, such as onions, chili, pepper, etc. can be identified but require a combination of taste and smell.

Answer: Vestibulocochlear

The vibration of air molecules sets up sound waves that are transmitted to the outer ear, the middle ear, the inner ear, the ear drum (tympanum) and the small bones of the ears. Small nerve fibers from the vestibulocochlear nerve (or auditory nerve or acoustic nerve or 8th cranial nerve) transmit the stimuli to the brain where it is interpreted as hearing. Small fibers from the vestibular portion of this nerve are located in the semicircular canal of the inner ears and control equilibrium.

Answer: Trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia is an extremely painful inflammation or unknown stimulation of the trigeminal nerve. The pain begins without warning, is stabbing in nature and lasts 30 seconds to several minutes. Certain factors may trigger an attack, such as exposure to cold, certain strong foods, or a pressure point on the gum. Certain anti-epileptic drugs may prevent attacks.

In worst cases surgery may be necessary.

Answer: Bell's palsy

Paralysis and some discomfort of the facial nerve (7th cranial nerve) is a form of neuritis of unknown cause. The facial muscles sag, especially at the corner of the mouth. There may be intolerance to sound and distortion of taste. Early treatment with corticosteroids may be helpful.

Answer: Blind spot

The optic nerve and the eye constitute one of the most miraculous organs of the human body. Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, the pupil, onto the lens and then are focused on the retina, which occupies the back two thirds of the eye. The retina contains millions of cells called rods and cones.

These cells convert the light energy into electrical signals that are sent to the brain through the optic nerve to the posterior lobe of the brain and converted to visual images. The macula is about 6 by 7 millimeters in size and sends the finer details (central vision) through the optic nerve.

The fovia is much smaller and has the highest concentration of photoreceptor cells.

Answer: Myopia

When the light energy focuses in front of the eye, this is called myopia or nearsightedness. If the light energy has not focused by the time it reaches the retina the condition is called hyperopia or farsightedness.

Answer: Optic nerve hypoplasia

Optic nerve hypoplasia is an underdevelopment of the optic nerve. The effects of alcohol or hard drugs on the optic nerve of the unborn child causes the optic nerve to stop its normal development. The head of the optic nerve is small and surrounded by a white halo. These infants tend to have other neurological problems and visual acuity may be severely impaired.

Answer: Vagus nerve

The vagus nerve originates in the medulla of the brain. Its branches go to the ears, pharynx, larynx, lungs, heart, stomach, diaphragm and abdominal organs. It has sensory, motor and autonomic functions. Irritation of the diaphragm usually results in referred pain to the shoulder area.

The brain is not accustomed to interpret pain from the diaphragm through the vagus nerve and thus it interprets it as coming from a nerve branch near the junction of the neck and shoulder.