Which cranial nerves are classified as pure motor?

Get more with Examzify Plus

Remove ads, unlock favorites, save progress, and access premium tools across devices.

FavoritesSave progressAd-free
From $9.99Learn more

Prepare for the NCCAOM Biomedicine Board Exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for success!

Cranial nerves that are classified as pure motor primarily serve to innervate muscles and are responsible for motor functions without sensory components. The correct choice includes cranial nerves III (oculomotor), IV (trochlear), and VI (abducens), which are all purely motor nerves.

The oculomotor nerve controls most of the eye's movements, including the constriction of the pupil and maintaining an open eyelid. The trochlear nerve innervates the superior oblique muscle, which is involved in downward and inward eye movements. The abducens nerve controls the lateral rectus muscle, responsible for moving the eye laterally.

Thus, these three nerves are exclusively motor in function and do not have sensory fibers associated with them, making this option the right selection for pure motor cranial nerves.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy