| Cranial nerves | Spinal nerves |
| 1. Nerves arising from the brain are cranial nerves. | 1. Nerves arising from the spinal cord are spinal nerves. |
| 2. There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves. | 2. There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves. |
| 3. Cranial nerves are of three types, viz sensory, mixed and motor. | 3. All spinal nerves are of mixed type. |
| 4. Cranial nerves are responsible for cerebral reflexes. | 4. Spinal nerves are responsible for spinal reflexes. |