cranial nerve

noun

: any of the nerves that arise in pairs from the lower surface of the brain one on each side and pass through openings in the skull to the periphery of the body and that comprise 12 pairs in reptiles, birds, and mammals and usually 10 in fishes and amphibians

Examples of cranial nerve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The hormone also can latch on to receptors on the vagus nerve—a long cranial nerve that shuttles messages between the brain and organs throughout the body. —Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 25 June 2024

An ophthalmologist had identified cranial nerve abnormalities and had sent her to the emergency department. —Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 22 Nov. 2023

That’s because the tongue is controlled by a cranial nerve, but the hands are controlled by spinal nerves. —R. Douglas Fields, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2023

Named after the Vagus Nerve (the largest cranial nerve in the body that helps to regulate stress) its purpose is to provide a calming effect through aromatherapy. —Alida Nugent, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cranial nerve

noun

: any of the paired nerves that arise from the lower surface of the brain and pass through openings in the skull

Medical Definition

cranial nerve

noun

: any of the 12 paired nerves that arise from the lower surface of the brain with one of each pair on each side and pass through openings in the skull to the periphery of the body see abducens nerve, accessory nerve, auditory nerve, facial nerve, glossopharyngeal nerve, hypoglossal nerve, oculomotor nerve, olfactory nerve, optic nerve, trigeminal nerve, trochlear nerve, vagus nerve