Cranial Nerve Lab

Question 1

What does a Snellen chart test

Answer 1

Vision

Question 2

What is an ophthalmoscope used for

Answer 2

Examine interior structures of eye

Question 3

CN 1 : what are you testing and how?

Answer 3

Olafactory Nerve 👃🏻

Sense of smell

Aromatic substance under nostril
ask to identify smell
Do one nostril at a time

Question 4

CN II : what are you testing and how?

Answer 4

Optic Nerve

Vision

Snellen chart: test visual acuity

Visual field test
- report when see fingers entering field of vision from side

Test each eye individually

Question 5

CN III, IV, VI :
what are you testing and how?

Answer 5

III : Oculomotor
IV : Trochlear
VI : Abducens

Assess eye movement,
pupil size,
light reflex

Patient follows object w eyes
Flashlight to test pupillary light reflex

Question 6

CN V : what are you testing and how?

Answer 6

Trigeminal Nerve

What:
Facial sensation & mastication 💪🏽s

How:
Cotton wisp to test light touch on face

Patient clenches teeth while palpating masseter & temporalis muscles

Question 7

CN VII : what are you testing and how?

Answer 7

Facial

Facial Expression &
Taste on anterior 2/3 of tongue 👅

Have them make facial expressions
Test tastes of sweet, salty, sour

Question 8

CN VIII: what are you testing and how?

Answer 8

Vestibulocochlear Nerve

Hearing and balance

Hearing:
Tuning fork to conduct Rinne & Weber tests

Balance:
stand w feet together, eyes closed

Question 9

CN IX & X :
what are you testing and how?

Answer 9

Glossopharyngeal & Vagus Nerve

Test:
gag reflex, taste on posterior 1/3 of tongue, assess speech

How:
Tongue depressor to elicit gag reflex

Test taste w bitter substance

Observe uvula & soft palate when says ahh

Question 10

CN XI : what are you testing and how?

Answer 10

Accessory nerve

Test strength of sternocleidomastoid & trapezius muscles

Have patient shrug shoulders and turn head against resistance

Question 11

CN XII : what are you testing and how?

Answer 11

Hypoglossal

Strength & coordination of tongue movements

Stick out tongue and move side to side without resistance