Word parts
What it means
Describes the cranium, the bones that surround the brain, and things near it. The 12 pairs of cranial nerves come straight from the brain and control things such as smell, sight, eye movement, facial feeling and movement, hearing, swallowing and tongue movement.
For the nurse
A neuro exam often tests some cranial nerves at the bedside: pupils reacting to light, a smile that is even on both sides, and a midline tongue. A new one-sided change is reported right away.
At a glance
| Spanish | craneal |
|---|
Related terms
neur/o
A word root that means nerve or the nervous system.
intracranial pressure
The pressure inside the skull, made by the brain, the blood and the fluid around the brain.
cephal/o
A word part that means head.