Rhymes to Remember Cranial Nerves
©2008 By Kathy Quan RN BSN
All Rights Reserved
There are several mnemonics or rhymes to help remember the 12 cranial nerves. Many are somewhat risqué. Here's
a clean one.
"On Old Olympus Towering Tops A Finn and German Viewed Some Hops." The author is unknown.
The Cranial Nerves are:
I. Olfactory
II. Optic
III. Oculomotor
IV. Trochlear
V. Trigeminal
VI. Abducens
VII. Facial
VIII. Acoustic (also known as Auditory, Statoacoustic or Vestibulocochlear)
IX. Glossopharyngeal
X. Vagus
XI. Spinal Accessory (also known as Accessory)
XII. Hypoglossal
Another one is:
"Oh Once One Takes The Anatomy Final Very Good Vacations Are Heavenly." The author is also unknown. This version uses
some of the alternative names for the nerves.