The term cranial nerves refers to nerves attached to the brain (BRN), the part of the central nervous system (CNS) located in the cranium (skull). They include the olfactory nerve (1n), optic nerve (2n), oculomotor nerve (3n), trochlear nerve (4n), trigeminal nerve (5n), abducens nerve (6n), facial nerve (7n), vestibulocochlear nerve (8n), glossopharyngeal nerve (9n), vagus nerve (10n), accessory nerve (11n) and hypoglossal nerve (12n) ( Carpenter-1983 ). While the cranial nerve nuclei are CNS structures, the cranial nerves are structures of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), superficial features (appendages) of the brain structures to which they attach (NeuroNames ). Final 24 Dec 2024.