Cranial nerve testing of the face and oral cavity

Question 1

How would you test the function of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve, CNV?

Answer 1

Patient to close their eyes + touch either side of their forehead with a pin.
Ask if they could feel it + whether it felt symmetrical

Question 2

How would you test the function of the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve, CNV?

Answer 2

Patient to shut eyes + touch each cheek with a pin.

Ask if they could feel it + whether it felt symmetrical

Question 3

How would you test the sensory function of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve, CNV?

Answer 3

Patient to shut eyes + touch either side of their jaw with a pin.
Ask if they could feel it + whether it felt symmetrical

Question 4

How would you test the motor function of the facial nerve?

Answer 4

Ask patient to:
Raise their eyebrows, 
Scrunch their eyes 
Puff out their cheeks
Smile
Pout
Look for asymmetry.

Question 5

How would you test the function of the glossopharyngeal nerve?

Answer 5

Using a tongue depressor on the back of the tongue to evoke the gag reflex.

Question 6

How would you test the motor function of the vagus nerve?

Answer 6

Ask the patient to open their mouth + say ‘aah’.
Look at the uvula at the back of the throat (use a torch if necessary) should be in the midline
Observe for any lateral deviation of the uvula (away from lesioned side).

Question 7

How would you test the motor function of the hypoglossal nerve?

Answer 7

Ask subject to protract their tongue + observe any deviation from midline (towards lesioned side)

Question 8

How would you test the motor function of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve, CNV?

Answer 8

Get patient to open + close their mouth
Ask patient to clench their jaw, palpate masseter (lateral cheek area) + temporalis (sides of forehead) muscles to test motor function.