Anatomy

Since we are talking about practical anatomy, let's focus on cranial nerves and have some more:

• Olfactory nerve comes before the optic - when something is going to happen (that is, when a danger is approaching!) in a primitive world, you should try to smell something before you could actually see any evidence.
• The oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nerves are in that order because you should first open your eyes, then try to make sure where you are standing before looking around and consider what the others are doing.
• Vestibular nerve is, of course, way below the optic - you must depend on what you see rather than what you hear. (Remark for medical students: Therefore, read your textbook rather than listen to what the professor says.)
• Glossopharyngeal nerve is above the hypoglossal - most of the time it is more important to make some noise rather than to express yourself clearly.
• Accessory nerve is also above the hypoglossal - if things go wrong, it is more important to shake your head and shrug your shoulder rather than to give an explanation.