Background　The effect of inhaled anesthetics on central nervous system has long been considered to be reversible without any side effects. In recent years, the pre-clinical researches demonstrated that animals, particularly in the developmental stage, developed memory and cognitive dysfunction after exposure to inhaled anesthetics. The causes of this phenomenon may be related to inhalational anesthetics-induced neuronal apoptosis. 　Objective　This review summarized the molecular mechanisms of neuroapoptosis in the developing brain induced by inhalational anesthetics.　Content　Inhalational anesthetics may facilitate neuroapoptosis through regulating neurotransmitters and their receptors, signal transduction pathways, oxidative stress, and β-amyloid protein accumulation.　Trend　These findings will help to improve the prevention or treatment of inhalational anesthetics-associated neurotoxicity.