Definitions for "Cranial nerve"
any of the 12 paired nerves that arise from the lower surface of the brain with one of each pair on each side passing through openings in the skull to the periphery of the body; olfactory (I), optic (II), oculomotor (III), trochlear (IV), trigeminal (V)—including ophthalmic (V1), maxillary (V2), and mandibular (V3)— abducens (VI), facial (VII), vestibulocochlear (VIII), glossopharyngeal (IX), and vagus (X)
any of the 12 paired nerves that originate in the brain stem
a nerve arising directly from the brain and passing through one of the holes in the skull