Question

Smallest cranial nerve is

• A. X- cranial nerve
• B. VI- cranial nerve
• C. VII- cranial nerve
• D. IV- cranial nerve

Answer 1

The correct option is D IV- cranial nerve

The trochlear nerve (the fourth cranial nerve) is a motor nerve, that innervates a single muscle: the superior oblique muscle of the eye. The trochlear nerve is unique among the cranial nerves in several respects. It is the smallest nerve in terms of the number of axons it contains and it has the greatest intracranial length. Other than the optic nerve (cranial nerve II), it is the only cranial nerve, that decussates (crosses to the other side) before innervating its target. Finally, it is the only cranial nerve, that exits from the dorsal aspect of the brainstem.