Question

Select the group of cranial nerves which are only motor in function.

• A. Abducens, Facial, Spinal accessory
• B. Pathetic, Trigeminal, Abducens
• C. Hypoglossal, Pathetic, Abducens
• D. Abducens, Facial, Auditory

Hint:

Facial, trigeminal and auditory nerves are not purely motor.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept
Of the 12 pairs of cranial nerves, some are sensory, some are motor and some are mixed.

Step 2: Purely motor nerves
Five nerves are only motor: oculomotor (III), pathetic or trochlear (IV), abducens (VI), spinal accessory (XI) and hypoglossal (XII).

Step 3: Check the options
Facial and trigeminal nerves are mixed, and the auditory nerve is sensory, so options (A), (B) and (D) fail. Hypoglossal, pathetic and abducens are all motor.

Final Answer:
The purely motor group is hypoglossal, pathetic and abducens. \[ \boxed{\text{(C) }\text{Hypoglossal, Pathetic, Abducens}} \]