Origin and functions of cranial nerves MCQs With Answer

Introduction:

The topic “Origin and functions of cranial nerves MCQs With Answer” is essential for B. Pharm students studying neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and clinical pharmacology. This concise, keyword-rich introduction covers cranial nerve origins (forebrain, brainstem nuclei, placodes, neural crest), functional modalities (sensory, motor, special senses, GSA, GSE, GVE, SVA, SSA), and clinical-pharmacological relevance (autonomic control, reflexes, drug effects on cranial nerve-mediated functions). Understanding nuclei, peripheral branches and common lesion patterns helps link anatomy to drug actions and adverse effects. Clear mastery aids patient assessment, rational prescribing and interpreting neurological signs. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which cranial nerve is purely sensory for the sense of smell?

• Olfactory nerve (I)
• Optic nerve (II)
• Trigeminal nerve (V)
• Facial nerve (VII)

Correct Answer: Olfactory nerve (I)

Q2. Which cranial nerve develops as an outgrowth of the diencephalon (forebrain)?

• Olfactory nerve (I)
• Optic nerve (II)
• Oculomotor nerve (III)
• Trochlear nerve (IV)

Correct Answer: Optic nerve (II)

Q3. Which statement best describes the facial nerve (VII)?

• Purely motor to muscles of mastication
• Purely sensory for taste
• Mixed nerve: motor, special sensory (taste), and parasympathetic fibers
• Purely autonomic parasympathetic

Correct Answer: Mixed nerve: motor, special sensory (taste), and parasympathetic fibers

Q4. Preganglionic parasympathetic fibers supplying the pupil constrictor originate from which nucleus?

• Superior salivatory nucleus
• Dorsal motor nucleus of vagus
• Edinger-Westphal nucleus
• Nucleus ambiguus

Correct Answer: Edinger-Westphal nucleus

Q5. Taste sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue is carried by which nerve?

• Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
• Facial nerve (VII) via chorda tympani
• Vagus nerve (X)
• Trigeminal nerve (V)

Correct Answer: Facial nerve (VII) via chorda tympani

Q6. Which brainstem nucleus receives visceral afferent information including taste and baroreceptor input?

• Motor nucleus of trigeminal
• Nucleus ambiguus
• Nucleus of the solitary tract (nucleus solitarius)
• Accessory nucleus

Correct Answer: Nucleus of the solitary tract (nucleus solitarius)

Q7. A lesion of the abducens nerve (VI) will primarily cause which clinical sign?

• Ptosis and mydriasis
• Inability to adduct the eye
• Inability to abduct the eye with medial deviation (esotropia)
• Loss of accommodation

Correct Answer: Inability to abduct the eye with medial deviation (esotropia)

Q8. Which cranial nerve has the largest sensory ganglion and is the principal sensory nerve of the face?

• Facial nerve (VII)
• Trigeminal nerve (V)
• Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
• Vagus nerve (X)

Correct Answer: Trigeminal nerve (V)

Q9. Preganglionic parasympathetic fibers that stimulate parotid gland secretion originate from which nucleus?

• Superior salivatory nucleus
• Dorsal motor nucleus of vagus
• Inferior salivatory nucleus
• Edinger-Westphal nucleus

Correct Answer: Inferior salivatory nucleus

Q10. The hypoglossal nerve (XII) emerges from the brainstem between which two surface landmarks?

• Between the inferior and superior colliculi
• From the lateral aspect of the pons
• From the pre-olivary sulcus between the pyramid and olive
• From the post-olivary sulcus lateral to the olive

Correct Answer: From the pre-olivary sulcus between the pyramid and olive

Q11. Hearing and balance are carried by which cranial nerve?

• Facial nerve (VII)
• Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
• Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)
• Trigeminal nerve (V)

Correct Answer: Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)

Q12. Loss of the afferent limb of the corneal reflex is due to lesion of which nerve division?

• Facial nerve efferent limb
• Trigeminal nerve – ophthalmic division (V1)
• Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
• Vagus nerve (X)

Correct Answer: Trigeminal nerve – ophthalmic division (V1)

Q13. The efferent limb of the gag reflex is mediated primarily by which cranial nerve?

• Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
• Vagus nerve (X)
• Facial nerve (VII)
• Hypoglossal nerve (XII)

Correct Answer: Vagus nerve (X)

Q14. Parasympathetic innervation to the lacrimal gland is carried by which nerve and via which pathway?

• Oculomotor nerve (III) via ciliary ganglion
• Facial nerve (VII) via greater petrosal nerve and pterygopalatine ganglion
• Trigeminal nerve (V) direct fibers
• Vagus nerve (X) via submandibular ganglion

Correct Answer: Facial nerve (VII) via greater petrosal nerve and pterygopalatine ganglion

Q15. Motor fibers to muscles of mastication arise from which cranial nerve nucleus?

• Facial nucleus
• Motor nucleus of trigeminal (V)
• Nucleus ambiguus
• Hypoglossal nucleus

Correct Answer: Motor nucleus of trigeminal (V)

Q16. Which cranial nerve is mixed but chiefly provides motor innervation to pharyngeal and laryngeal muscles via nucleus ambiguus?

• Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
• Vagus nerve (X)
• Accessory nerve (XI)
• Hypoglossal nerve (XII)

Correct Answer: Vagus nerve (X)

Q17. Special sensory neurons for olfaction and the inner ear develop from which embryologic structures?

• Neural crest cells
• Endodermal placodes
• Ectodermal placodes (olfactory and otic placodes)

Correct Answer: Ectodermal placodes (olfactory and otic placodes)

Q18. Which cranial nerve is purely motor and controls tongue movements?

• Vagus nerve (X)
• Accessory nerve (XI)
• Hypoglossal nerve (XII)
• Trigeminal nerve (V)

Correct Answer: Hypoglossal nerve (XII)

Q19. Taste from the posterior one-third of the tongue and general sensation from the pharynx is primarily carried by which nerve?

• Facial nerve (VII)
• Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
• Vagus nerve (X)
• Trigeminal nerve (V)

Correct Answer: Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)

Q20. What does the fiber classification GVE represent in cranial nerve terminology?

• General visceral afferent – visceral sensory
• General visceral efferent – autonomic (parasympathetic) motor fibers to glands and smooth muscle
• General somatic efferent – skeletal muscle motor
• Special somatic afferent – vision and hearing

Correct Answer: General visceral efferent – autonomic (parasympathetic) motor fibers to glands and smooth muscle

Q21. Pharmacologically, stimulation of parasympathetic fibers in the vagus nerve (X) would most likely cause which effect in the airways?

• Bronchodilation and decreased secretions
• Bronchoconstriction and increased secretions
• No effect on bronchial tone
• Increased bronchodilation via beta-2 receptors

Correct Answer: Bronchoconstriction and increased secretions

Q22. The preganglionic parasympathetic neurons that provide vagal output to thoracic and abdominal viscera arise from which nucleus?

• Nucleus ambiguus
• Dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus
• Edinger-Westphal nucleus
• Inferior salivatory nucleus

Correct Answer: Dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus

Q23. Hyperacusis (increased sensitivity to sound) following facial nerve palsy is due to paralysis of which tiny muscle?

• Tensor tympani (innervated by V)
• Stapedius (innervated by VII)
• Tensor veli palatini
• Stapedius (innervated by V)

Correct Answer: Stapedius (innervated by VII)

Q24. Proprioceptive information from muscles of mastication and general facial sensation are conveyed by which cranial nerve?

• Facial nerve (VII)
• Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
• Trigeminal nerve (V)
• Accessory nerve (XI)

Correct Answer: Trigeminal nerve (V)

Q25. The abducens nucleus is located in which part of the brainstem and contributes to horizontal gaze?

• Midbrain
• Pons
• Medulla
• Cerebellum

Correct Answer: Pons

Q26. A posterior communicating artery aneurysm compressing a cranial nerve will most likely produce which set of signs?

• Loss of hearing and tinnitus
• Pupil dilation (mydriasis), ptosis, and ophthalmoplegia due to oculomotor (III) compression
• Facial paralysis and hyperacusis
• Loss of tongue movement

Correct Answer: Pupil dilation (mydriasis), ptosis, and ophthalmoplegia due to oculomotor (III) compression

Q27. Chemoreceptor afferent fibers from the carotid body travel predominantly in which cranial nerve?

• Vagus nerve (X)
• Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
• Facial nerve (VII)
• Trigeminal nerve (V)

Correct Answer: Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)

Q28. The efferent limb of the corneal reflex (blink) is mediated by which nerve that contracts orbicularis oculi?

• Trigeminal nerve (V)
• Oculomotor nerve (III)
• Facial nerve (VII)
• Abducens nerve (VI)

Correct Answer: Facial nerve (VII)

Q29. Muscles of facial expression derive embryologically from which pharyngeal (branchial) arch and are supplied by which nerve?

• First arch – Trigeminal nerve (V)
• Second arch – Facial nerve (VII)
• Third arch – Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
• Fourth arch – Vagus nerve (X)

Correct Answer: Second arch – Facial nerve (VII)

Q30. Preganglionic parasympathetic fibers to the submandibular ganglion travel in which pathway to increase salivation?

• Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) via tympanic nerve
• Facial nerve (VII) via chorda tympani to the submandibular ganglion
• Vagus nerve (X) direct fibers
• Oculomotor nerve (III) via ciliary ganglion

Correct Answer: Facial nerve (VII) via chorda tympani to the submandibular ganglion

G S Sachin

I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.

Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com