Cranial nerve assessment

Question 1

how do you test cranial nerve I?

Answer 1

test each nostril for smell reception.
hold lemon juice, vinegar, etc up to client’s nostril

Question 2

how do you test cranial nerve II?

Answer 2

test for vision and acuity fields

Question 3

how to test for cranial nerve III?

Answer 3

PERRLA and have client open and close eyes

Question 4

how do you test cranial nerve IV?

Answer 4

test downward and inward movement of the eye

Question 5

how do you test cranial nerve V?

Answer 5

• ask client to open and clench jaws while palpating jaw muscles
• test face and neck for pain sensations, light touch, and temperature

Question 6

how do you test cranial nerve VI?

Answer 6

test ocular movement of the eyes

Question 7

how do you test cranial nerve VII?

Answer 7

ask client to raise eyebrows, smile, show teeth and puff out cheeks
- test for taste sensation

Question 8

how do you test cranial nerve VIII?

Answer 8

test hearing ability

Question 9

how do you test cranial nerve IX?

Answer 9

have pt say “ah” and yawn to check movement of soft palate and that uvula is midline
- eleicit gag response and have pt swallow
- test taste sensation

Question 10

how do you test cranial nerve X?

Answer 10

ask pt to swallow and speak; note any hoarseness

Question 11

how do you test cranial nerve XI?

Answer 11

ask pt to shrug shoulders against resistance

Question 12

how do you test cranial nerve XII?

Answer 12

ask pt to protrude tongue and place tongue against cheek

Question 13

name, type, function of CN I?

Answer 13

olfactory, sensory, sense of smell

Question 14

name, type, function of CN II?

Answer 14

optic, sensory, sense of vision

Question 15

name, type, function of CN III?

Answer 15

oculomotor, motor, pupil constriction, eyelids movement

Question 16

name, type, function of CN IV?

Answer 16

trochlear, motor, downward & inward movement of eye

Question 17

name, type, function of CN V?

Answer 17

trigeminal, motor & sensory, kaw movement/sensation of face and neck

Question 18

name, type, function of CN VI?

Answer 18

abducens, motor, lateral movement of eye

Question 19

name, type, function of CN VII?

Answer 19

Facial, motor and sensory, muscles of the face and taste

Question 20

name, type, function of CN VIII?

Answer 20

Acoustic, sensory, hearing

Question 21

name, type, function of CN IX?

Answer 21

glossopharyngeal, sensory and motor, pharyngeal movement and swallowing/taste

Question 22

name, type, function of CN X?

Answer 22

vagus, motor/sensory, swallowing and speaking

Question 23

name, type, function of CN XI?

Answer 23

Accessory, motor, movement of shoulder muscles

Question 24

name, type, function of CN XII?

Answer 24

hypoglossal, motor, movement of tongue