Mnemonic for cranial nerves

[KR]

I am a freshman nursing student and in my A and P class we have to learn the 12 cranial nerves. I know that there are a couple little sayings out there to help remember them but I do not remember all of the one I heard before. I know the one was a little sick, but I don't care if it helps me to remember them. I would be very appreciative if someone would reply in the forum or in email if anyone knows what I am talking about or where I could find the sayings.

Thank you very much.

[Maisie]

"Oh, Once One Takes The Anatomy Final, Very Good Vacations Are Heavenly"

[Katmae RN]

its been 18 yrs since i had to study the cranial nerves..so my memory, is well lets say, dull. Can someone please name the nerves to match the nmemonic . Thanks

[bruinlaura]

this is the one i learned:

"on old olympuses towering top a fin and german viewed a house"

olfactory, optic, oculomotor, trochlear, trigeminal, abducens, facial, auditory(or vestibuolocochlear), glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory, hypoglossal

[Katmae RN]

Thanks for the refresher Bruinlaura :)

[laughing weasel]

oh oh oh to touch and feel very good velvet a h. thats the way that we learned them.

[Achoo!, LPN]

laughing weasel said:

oh oh oh to touch and feel very good velvet a h. thats the way that we learned them.

yep, except the last for me was ah heaven!

[jitters]

Great! Wow thanks for all your ideas and help. That website for mnemonic is great thanks for posting it. I have to say I agree with the others the dirty ones do seem like they would be eaiser to remember. I guess I'll have to wait and see how well they work on my test.

Is there anyone out there in A&P I that is taking there final soon? Just wondering how you're coping? I'm just glad I had the Thanksgiving break to study, all my other classes didn't have anything due so I was able to really concentrate on A&P I for once.

Thanks again!!!

[kim93079]

Here is a cute (kinda dirty) song our teacher taught us. It not only helps with their names but also their function. Hope this helps, I know it did me! Sorry so long.

THE TWELVE CRANIAL NERVES

sung to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas

I (Olfactory)

On the first nerve of the cranium,

my true love gave to me:

My sense olfactory.

II (Optic)

On the second nerve of the cranium,

my true love gave to me:

Two, eyes a-looking,

And my sense olfactory.

III (Oculomotor)

On the third nerve of the cranium,

my true love gave to me:

Three cross-eyed glances,

Two, eyes a-looking,

And my sense olfactory.

IV (Trochlear)

On the forth nerve of the cranium,

my true love gave to me:

Four: superior oblique muscles,

Three cross-eyed glances,

Two, eyes a-looking,

And my sense olfactory.

V (Trigeminal)

On the fifth nerve of the cranium,

my true love gave to me:

Mas-ti-ca-tion!

Four: superior oblique,

Three cross-eyed glances,

Two, eyes a-looking,

And my sense olfactory.

VI (Abducens)

On the sixth nerve of the cranium,

my true love gave to me:

Six sideways glances,

Mas-ti-ca-tion!

Four; superior oblique,

Three cross-eyed glances,

Two eyes a-looking,

And my sense olfactory.

VII (Facial)

 

On the seventh nerve of the cranium,

my true love gave to me:

Seven funny faces,

Six sideways glances,

Mas-ti-ca-tion!

Four; superior oblique,

Three cross-eyed glances,

Two eyes a-looking,

And my sense olfactory.

VIII (Vestibulocochlear)

On the eighth nerve of the cranium,

my true love gave to me:

Eight sounds, and balance,

Seven funny faces,

Six sideways glances,

Mas-ti-ca-tion!

Four; superior oblique,

Three cross-eyed glances,

Two eyes a-looking,

And my sense olfactory.

IX (Glossopharyngeal)

On the ninth nerve of the cranium,

my true love gave to me:

Nine quick swallows,

Eight sounds, and balance,

Seven funny faces,

Six sideways glances,

Mas-ti-ca-tion!

Four; superior oblique,

Three cross-eyed glances,

Two eyes a-looking,

And my sense olfactory.

X (Vagus)

On the tenth nerve, the vagus,

my true love gave to me:

Ten heart beats a minute,

Nine quick swallows,

Eight sounds, and balance,

Seven funny faces,

Six sideways glances,

Mas-ti-ca-tion!

Four; superior oblique,

Three cross-eyed glances,

Two eyes a-looking,

And my sense olfactory.

XI (Accessory)

On the eleventh nerve of the cranium,

my true love gave to me:

Eleven heads a-tilting,

Ten heart beats a minute,

Nine quick swallows,

Eight sounds, and balance,

Seven funny faces,

Six sideways glances,

Mas-ti-ca-tion!

Four; superior oblique,

Three cross-eyed glances,

Two eyes a-looking,

And my sense olfactory.

XII (Hypoglossal)

On the twelfth nerve of the cranium,

my true love gave to me:

Twelve lovely lickings,

Eleven head's a-bobbing,

Ten - take it slowly,

Nine, deep throating,

Eight, hear her panting,

Seven, smile with pleasure,

Six look for condoms,

Mas-ti-ca-tion! (Don't bite!)

Four, look to heaven,

Three, roll your eyes,

Two (you've seen it coming)

Can have fun with a-na-to-my!

[SCmomof3, RN]

Today we dissected the sheep's brain and were trying to learn the cranial nerves, so I shared the X rated acronym with my lab partners (we're all females) and they were dying laughing. But I bet we'll all remember them hehe. I had to change it a bit because we use different names for a couple nerves but it's the same idea. I'm too embarrassed to post it on our class website so I'll post one of the tame ones there LOL! Thanks

[Pachinko]

Kim, I *love* that rhyme. It would be a lot of work to memorize, but I love that someone put all the time and trouble into creating it. Adorable!

I got two versions of the cranial nerve mnemonic, one G-rated (the "very good velvet" one) and one x-rated (like some of the above, but using the f-word and incorportaing virgins). Our TA actually taught the latter to us.

We also had a mnemonic for the general function of the nerves (*S*ensory, *M*otor or *B*oth):

Some say marry money, but my brother says big brains matter more

The x-rated version--more like PG-13--involved substituting various other body parts that beginning with *B* for "brains."

[camiluvsNURSING]

this is very stupid (that's how i remembered it so well)

"old ottis otter took tammy apples for very good vegetables and ham"

[montinurse, BSN]

Hey! We just had our final quiz, and then our final will be in a week and a half. I memorized the nerves, numbers, order, but got fudged up on their purposes. Our instructor pursposefully asked us plenty of questions on the last 6 nerves. Just warning you to be carefull!! I'm trying to study a bit every day for the exam. My textbook has a great website with plenty of study tools for each chapter. Good luck, Jenny (new member)