How many pairs of cranial nerves are present in the human body?

Appeared in: NVS Staff Nurse - 2022

Explanation

The human body contains 12 pairs of cranial nerves, which are a fundamental part of the peripheral nervous system.
These nerves originate directly from the brain and brainstem, as opposed to spinal nerves that arise from the spinal cord.
They are numbered I through XII and are responsible for sensory and motor functions primarily in the head and neck region.

Option A: This is the number of pairs of spinal nerves, which emerge from the segments of the spinal cord to innervate the rest of the body.
Option C: This is an incorrect count and does not correspond to any major nerve grouping in the human body.
Option D: This is an incorrect count. While 10 of the 12 cranial nerves originate from the brainstem, the total number of cranial nerves is 12.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Anatomy of the Peripheral Nervous System as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Assessing the function of the 12 cranial nerves is a fundamental component of a neurological examination. It helps clinicians localize lesions within the brain, particularly the brainstem.
What if? - If a patient suddenly develops facial drooping, difficulty smiling, and cannot close one eye, it suggests a lesion of Cranial Nerve VII (Facial Nerve). This condition, often Bell's palsy, requires prompt medical evaluation and nursing support for eye care and nutrition.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core subject of the question, which is 'cranial nerves'.
Recognize this as a factual recall question requiring knowledge of basic human anatomy.
Differentiate between cranial nerves (originating from the brain) and spinal nerves (originating from the spinal cord), as the number of spinal nerves is a common distractor.
Recall that there are 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
Compare this fact with the given options and select the one that matches.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q7j3sFY2ARGSWGSAWeACbc

E6 Anatomy Grays 43e Vol 1 Part 3 p. 33-35

E6 Anatomy Applied Ashalatha 4e p. 424-426

Practise the full NVS Staff Nurse - 2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.