Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government
Español
Government Funding Lapse
Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted.

The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov.

Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at opm.gov.

cranial nerve

(KRAY-nee-ul nerv)
One of twelve pairs of nerves that pass from the brain, through openings in the skull, to different areas of the head, neck, chest, and abdomen. The cranial nerves send information between the brain and the sense organs (the eyes, ears, nose, and tongue). They also send information to the muscles in the face, head, neck, and other organs in the body, including the larynx (voice box), heart, lungs, stomach, and intestines. The cranial nerves are part of the peripheral nervous system.
Search NCI's Dictionary of Cancer Terms