Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Head and Neck anatomy > Cranial nerve tests > Flashcards

Cranial nerve tests Flashcards

1
Q

How can function of the olfactory nerve be tested?

A

Test sense of smell by blocking one nostril and holding non-irritating smell to the other.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How can somatosensory division of the trigeminal nerve be tested?

A

Using cotton wool to test sensation in each part of head corresponding to a division of the trigeminal nerve:

  1. Opthalmic: Forehead
  2. Maxillary: Cheek
  3. Mandibular: Chin
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How can the motor component of the trigeminal nerve be tested?

A
  • Closing mouth and feeling bulk of temporalis/masseter
  • Opening mouth against resistance (lateral pterygoids)
  • Checking for any deviation of the jaw when mouth opened (unilateral lateral pterygoid paralysis)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What does the corneal reflex test?

A
  • Afferent pathway: V1 (Nasociliary nerve)
  • Efferent pathway: Facial nerve
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the corneal reflex?

A

Blinking reflex elicited by gently touching the cornea with cotton wool.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How can the chorda tympani be tested?

A

Taste in anterior 2/3 of tongue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How can the motor component of the facial nerve be tested?

A
  • Asking patient to make various facial expressions
  • Corneal reflex (efferent pathway)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What facial expressions can be made to test the functions of muscles of facial expression?

A
  1. Wrinkling forehead → Frontalis → Temporal branch
  2. Screw eyes shut tightly → Orbicularis oculi → Temporal/zygomatic branch
  3. Smiling → Orbicularis oris, risorius… → Buccal branch
  4. Puffing up cheeks → Orbicularis oris, buccinator → Buccal branch
  5. Clench teeth + depress angles of mouth → Platysma → Cervical branch
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How can Bell’s palsey be tested?

A
  • Forehead cannot be wrinkled
  • Eyes cannot be screwed shut
  • Patient cannot smile
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How can vestibulocochlear nerve be tested?

A

Hearing:

  • Whisper test
  • Rinne’s test
  • Weber test

Balance:

  • Rhomberg’s test
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is Rinne’s test?

A
  • Loudness of sound from tuning fork is compared when held outside external acoustic meatus compared to when held against mastoid process
  • Normal hearing/sensorineural hearing loss results in louder air conduction than bone conduction
  • Conductive hearing loss results in louder bone conduction than air conduction
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the Weber test?

A
  • Tuning fork held against forehead.
  • If patient hears sound louder in affected ear than unaffected ear, conductive hearing loss.
  • If patient hears sound louder in unaffected ear than affected ear, sensorineural hearing loss.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is Romberg’s test?

A
  • Balance is tested when the eyes are closed
  • If balance is lost by patient when eyes closed, test is positive and indicated damage to vestibular nerve
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the Doll’s eye reflex?

A

Part of vestibulo-ocular reflex whereby the gaze is fixed when the head is tilted.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the “Doll’s eye reflex” used to test?

A
  • Afferent: VIII (Vestibular)
  • Efferent: III, IV, VI
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is caloric reflex test?

A
  • Cold/warm water is irrigated into the external auditory meatus and nystagmus (+ nausea if conscious) is created in the eyes.
  • The direction of fast phase of nystagmus is determine by temperature of water (COWS): Cold Opposite, Warm Same.
17
Q

What is the caloric reflex test used to test?

A
  • Afferent: VIII (Vestibular)
  • Efferent: III, IV, VI
18
Q

What is the Gag reflex?

A

Brisk movement of wooden spatula on posterior 1/3 of tongue/oropharynx causes reflex elevation of soft palate (gagging).

19
Q

What is the “Gag reflex” used to test?

A
  • Affterent: Glossopharyngeal nerve
  • Efferent: Vagus
20
Q

How can motor component of vagus nerve be tested?

A
  1. When patient asked to say “Aah…”, uvula deviates away from the side of weakness.
  2. Asking patient to cough.
  3. Checking for hoarseness of voice.
21
Q

What are the effects of damaging laryngeal nerves?

A
  • Unilateral damage: Minimal phonation effect as there is compensation from other side.
  • Bilateral damage:
    1. Partial damage: Semon’s law states that posterior cricoarytenoid damaged and vocal cords adduct, preventing breathing.
    2. Full damage: Vocal cords in half adducted position.
22
Q

How can the spinal root of the accessory nerve [XI] be tested?

A
  • Turning head against resistance → Sternocleidomastoid
  • Shrugging shoulders → Trazpezius
23
Q

How can damage to the hypoglossal nerve be tested?

A
  • Wasting of affected side of tongue
  • Deviation towards affected side when tongue protruded
24
Q

What are brainstem reflexes that can be used to test unconscious patients?

A
  1. Pupillary reflex
  2. Corneal reflex
  3. Vestibulo-ocular reflex:
    - Doll’s eye reflex
    - Caloric reflex
  4. Gag reflex

Head and Neck anatomy (18 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions