Cranial Nerve Assessment

Question 1

Have client close one nostril & provide one of the scents & ask to identify. Repeat bilaterally.

Answer 1

Olfactory - CN1

Question 2

Review data from eye assessment. Red reflex, Near visual acuity, Visual fields by confrontation

Answer 2

Optic - CN2

Question 3

Review data from eye evaluation. Positions test, pupillary reflex, margins of eyelids.

Answer 3

Oculomotor, Trochlear & Abducens

CN3, CN4, CN6

Question 4

Ask client to clench teeth while you palpate temporal & masseter muscles. Touch forehead, cheeks & chin with dull or sharp side of paperclip, bilateral.

Answer 4

Trigeminal - CN5

Question 5

To assess corneal reflex?

Answer 5

Ask client to look up & away, brush cornea with cotton wisp.

Question 6

Ask client to smile, frown & wrinkle forehead, puff cheeks, raise eyebrows, purse lips, close eyelids tightly.

Answer 6

Facial - CN7

Question 7

Review ear assessment. Rinne, Weber & Whisper

Answer 7

Acoustic (Vestibulocochlear) - CN8

Question 8

Ask client to open mouth wide & say ah while you use a tongue depressor to hold tongue down. Touch posterior pharynx with tongue depressor (gag)

Answer 8

Glossopharyngeal - CN9

Vagus -C10

Question 9

While you provide resistance, ask client to shrug shoulders, turn head left & right.

Answer 9

Spinal Accessory - C11

Question 10

Ask client to stick tongue out & move it from side to side while you provide resistance with tongue depressor. Say “D,N,L,T”

Answer 10

Hypoglossal - C12

Question 11

OOOTTAFVGVAH

Answer 11

Oflactory
Optic
Oculomotor
Trochlear
Trigeminal
Abducens
Facial
Vestibulocochlear
Glossopharyngeal
Vagus
Accessory
Hypoglossal

Question 12

Bilateral or unilateral muscle weakness in face, inability to distinguish sharp or dull, sense the touch. Impairment of?

Answer 12

Trigeminal CN5

Question 13

Asymmetry in muscle contractions or strength, or drooping of shoulders. Fasiculations (twitches) while turning head. Impairment of?

Answer 13

Spinal Accessory CN11

Question 14

Bilateral or unilateral weakness or fasiculations in tongue, inability to clearly & distinctly articulate letters DNLT. Impairment of?

Answer 14

Hypoglossal CN12

Question 15

Smell impulses from nasal mucous membrane to brain

Answer 15

Olfactory

Question 16

Visual impulses from eye to brain

Answer 16

Optic

Question 17

Contracts 4 muscles to control eye movement, controls pupils

Answer 17

Oculomotor

Question 18

Contracts 1 muscle to control eye movement

Answer 18

Trochlear

Question 19

Clenching and lateral jaw movements

Answer 19

Trigeminal

Question 20

Lateral eye movements

Answer 20

Abducens

Question 21

Facial expressions

Answer 21

Facial

Question 22

Hearing and balance

Answer 22

Vestibulocochlear

Question 23

Promotes swallowing movements

Answer 23

Glossopharyngeal

Question 24

Promotes swallowing, talking

Answer 24

Vagus

Question 25

Sternocleidomastoid & trapezius muscles

Answer 25

Accessory

Question 26

Tongue Muscles

Answer 26

Hypoglossal