Cranial Nerves Newport Beach, CA

Treatment of Cranial Nerve Disorders in Orange County

There are twelve pairs of cranial nerves that lead directly from the brain to various parts of the head, neck, and trunk. Some of the cranial nerves are involved in the special senses (such as seeing, hearing, and taste), and others control muscles in the face or regulate glands. The nerves are named and numbered according to their location, from the front of the brain to the back.

1st – Olfactory Nerve – Smell
2nd – Optic Nerve – Vision
3rd – Oculomotor Nerve – Eye movement, raising of eyelids
4th – Trochlear Nerve – Eye movement
5th – Trigeminal Nerve – Facial sensation and chewing
6th – Abducens Nerve – Eye movement outward
7th – Facial Nerve – Facial expression, taste in the front of tongue, saliva and tears production of saliva and tears, and controls a muscle involved in hearing
8th – Auditory Nerve – Hearing
9th – Glossopharyngeal Nerve – Swallowing, the gag reflex, and speech
10th – Vagus Nerve – Swallowing, the gag reflex, and speech
11th – Accessory Nerve – Neck turning and shoulder shrugging
12th – Hypoglossal Nerve – Tongue movement

Robert Louis, MD, a fellowship-trained Orange County Neurosurgeon, is the Director of the Skull Base and Pituitary Tumor Program at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Orange County, California. Dr. Louis has particular expertise in endoscopic and minimally invasive treatment of benign and malignant brain tumors, sellar and parasellar tumors and skull base tumors.

Dr. Robert Louis specializes in minimally invasive treatment of cranial nerve disorders. For appointments, please call (949) 383-4185 or Contact Us.