Cranial Nerves: Functional Components Summary

Component	Function	Symbol	Cranial nerves containing component
Afferent fibers
General somatic afferent	General sensations	GSA	Trigeminal (5); Facial (7); glossopharyngeal (9); vagus (10)
Special somatic afferent AKA Special sensory	Hearing, balance, vision	SSA	Optic (2); vestibulocochlear (8)
General visceral afferent	Viscera	GVA	Glossopharyngeal (9); vagus (10)
Special visceral afferent AKA Special sensory	Smell, taste	SVA	Olfactory (1); facial (7); glossopharyngeal (9); vagus (10)
Efferent fibers
General somatic efferent	Somatic muscles	GSE	Oculomotor (3); trochlear (4); abducent (6); accessory (11); hypoglossal (12)
General visceral efferent	Glands & smooth muscles (parasympathetic innervation)	GVE	Oculomotor (3); facial (7); glossopharyngeal (9); vagus (10)
Special visceral efferent AKA Branchial efferent/motor	Branchial arch muscles (AKA some muscles of the face & neck)	BE	Trigeminal (5); facial (7); glossopharyngeal (9); vagus (10)

References

Drake, R., Vogl, A., & Mitchell, A. (2010). Chapter 8: Head and neck - orbit. Gray's anatomy for students (2nd ed., pp. 878-902). Philadelphia: USA: Elsevier: Churchill Livingstone.

Snell, R. (2010). The cranial nerve nuclei and their central connections and distribution. Clinical neuroanatomy (7th ed., pp. 331-370). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.