cranial nerve exam

Question 1

a good neurologic exam can be better than an MRI

Answer 1

yassss

Question 2

midbrain cranial nerves

Answer 2

3 and 4

Question 3

Pons cranial nerves primary and secondary

Answer 3

primary: 6,7 and MLF
secondary: 2 and 8

Question 4

medulla cranial nerves

Answer 4

primary: 5
secondary: 8. 9. 19. 11. and 12

Question 5

tell me about cranial nerve 1?

Answer 5

it only can be tested in patients who are awake and any issues leads to loss of taste and smell

Question 6

tell me about cranial nerve 2? what are the tests we can do awake? what about those in coma?

Answer 6

optic

awake:

• visual acuity
• visual fields

coma
- blink to threat

Question 7

cranial nerve 3, 4, 6? tests for awake vs coma?

Answer 7

3- occulomotor
4- trochlear
6- abducens

awake

• extra ocular movments
• look for ptosis

coma
- oculocephalic reflex

Question 8

cranial nerve 5. tell me about awake vs coma?

Answer 8

trigeminal

awake

• pin-prick, temperature, light touch, vibration
• jaw strength

coma
- corneal or lash reflex

Question 9

corneal or lash reflex

Answer 9

V2 will cause patient to blink when cornea is touched

Question 10

CN 7. awake vs coma?

Answer 10

facial

awake

• facial movement (smile, eye closure and brow)
• taste

coma
-grimace

Question 11

CN 8. awake vs coma

Answer 11

vestibulocochlear

awake
- check hearing

coma

• oculocephalic reflex
• cold water calorics

Question 12

CN 9 and 10. coma vs awake

Answer 12

9- glossopharyngeal
10- vagus

awake

• palate elevation
• bedside swallow

coma
-variation in gag reflex

Question 13

CN 11. coma vs awake

Answer 13

11- spinal accessory

only awake test no coma

• shoulder shrug
• sternomastoids

Question 14

CN 12. coma vs awake

Answer 14

12- hypoglossal

only awake no coma test

• tongue movement
• tongue strength

Question 15

oculocephalic reflex

Answer 15

keeping eyes stable while head moves and allows us to test eye movements in comatose patients

Question 16

oculocephalic reflex involves ______ and checks _____ through ______

Answer 16

CN 8, 3, 4, 6 and MLF

check medulla through midbrain

Question 17

cold water caloric testing

Answer 17

used in comatose patients that lack an oculocephalic reflex.

• eyes deviate slowly towards cold water

Question 18

Doll’s eyes

Answer 18

used to describe lid movements— NOT A GOOD TEST

Question 19

CN lesion + limb weakness, ataxia or sensory neurons

Answer 19

inside brainstem

Question 20

multiple CN without long tract signs

Answer 20

subarachnoid space

Question 21

multiple, contigous and unilateral

Answer 21

skull base or cavernous sinus

Question 22

isolated CN lesion

Answer 22

uncertain but more likely peripheral location

Question 23

CN involved in skull base

Answer 23

9, 10, 11, 12

Question 24

CN involved in CP angle

Answer 24

5, 7, 8

Question 25

CN involved in cavernous sinus

Answer 25

3, 4, 5, V1, V2, 6