Cranial Nerve Testing

Question 1

Test the sensory functions of the three divisions of the trigeminal

Answer 1

Trigeminal is the sensory nerve of the face
To the eyelids is the ophthalmic
Anterior temple, middle part of the face to the corners of the mouth is the maxillary
Middle part of the temple anterior to the ear and down to the chin is the mandibular branch, as is the lower teeth, gums, lips, inside of cheeks, floor of mouth and anterior 2/3rds of the tongue

Question 2

Test the motor function of the accessory nerve

Answer 2

Shrug shoulders to move trapezium and turn head to test SCM

Question 3

Test the motor function of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve

Answer 3

Palpate masseter (cheeks) and temporalis (temples) muscles

Question 4

Test motor function of the facial nerve

Answer 4

Ask patient to adopt various expressions and look for assymetry - smile, frown, close eyes tightly, lift eyes, show teeth, puff cheeks.

Question 5

What are the functions of the facial nerve

Answer 5

Supplies motor muscles of facial expression & via chorda tympani, parasympathetic to submandibular/sublingual salivary glands

Question 6

Test function of the glossopharyngeal nerve

Answer 6

Use 2 tongue depressors (1 to hold tongue down and other to touch back of mouth) and evoke a gag reflex.
It is the sensory nerve of the posterior 1/3rd of the tongue and oropharynx

Question 7

Test motor function of the vagus

Answer 7

Ask the subject to open their mouth and say “ahh” and observe the elevation of the uvula to see if there is any deviation from the midline (away from the lesioned side)

Question 8

Test the motor function of the hypoglossal nerve

Answer 8

Protract (stick out tongue) deviation goes towards lesioned side

Question 9

What is the motor function of the hypoglossus

Answer 9

The tongue