Cranial Nerves Flashcards
Olfactory CN 1
Type: sensory, function: smell, assessment: identify familiar odors with each nare separately.
Nursing consideration: have client smell a nonirritating substance such as coffee or tobacco with eyes closed testing each nostril separately
Optic CN 2
Type: sensory
Function: vision
Assessment: snellen chart for far vision, newspaper for near vision, asses light reflex.
Trochlear CN 4
Type: motor, function: extra ocular eye movement, assessment: same as CN 3
Oculomotor CN 3
Type: motor, function: extraocular eye movement, assessment: assess EOM with the 6 cardinal position of gaze (move pen in front of patient in a “H” fashion)
Type: parasympathetic, function: pupil constriction, assessment: assess constriction with light
Trigeminal
Maxillary branch
Type: sensory, function: somatic sensations of the face, oral cavity, 2/3 of the tongue, teeth. Assessment: test corneal reflex (also known as the blink reflex, is an involuntary blinking of the eyelids elicited by stimulation of the cornea (such as by touching or by a foreign body), or bright light, though could result from any peripheral stimulus. Stimulation should elicit both a direct and consensual response (response of the opposite eye). The reflex consumes a rapid rate of 0.1 second. The evolutionary purpose of this reflex is to protect the eyes from foreign bodies and bright lights (the latter known as the optical reflex).[1] The blink reflex also occurs when sounds greater than 40-60 dB are made.), touch forehead, cheeks, and chin with Cotten swab with patients eye closed.
Trigeminal CN 5
Ophthalmic branch
Type: sensory, function: somatic sensation of cornea and face,
assessment: palpate temporal and masseter muscles with teeth clenched. Able to differentiate between various stimuli touched to the face and neck.
Nursing consideration: test with pin and wisp of cotton over all three of these areas: forehead, cheek, jaw, and both sides of face
Trigeminal
Mandibular branch
Type: sensory, somatic sensation of lower face, assessment: symmetrical comparison.
Type: motor, function: mastication, assessment: bite down or chew.
Abducens CN 6
Type: motor, function: lateral eye movement, assessment: look right and left.
Facial CN 7
Type: motor, function: facial expression, assessment: smile, frown, puff out cheeks.
Type: sensory, function: taste, anterior is 2/3, assessment: identify taste.
Type: parasympathetic, function: salvation,
assessment: assess for salvia. smile, whistle (if they know how), wrinkle forehead. able to differentiate tastes among various agents.
Nursing consideration: observe for facial symmetry after asking client to frown, smile, raise eyebrows, close eyelids against resistance, blow.
place sweet, sour, bitter, and salty substances on tongue.
Glossopharyngeal CN 9
Type: sensory, function: taste, post, 1/3 of tongue, Pharyngeal sensations. Assessment: identifies taste.
Type: motor, function: swallowing, assessment: test gag reflex, use tongue blade, note rise of uvula with “Ahh”.
Vestibular cochlear CN 8
Vestibular: type: sensory, function: equilibrium, assessment: observe balance while walking
Cochlear: type: sensory, function: hearing,
assessment: hearing acuity, webers and rinne’s test.
Vagus CN 10
Type: sensory, function: sensation of Pharynx, larynx, and external ear. Assessment: test same as 9
Type: motor, function: swallowing, assessment: test same as 9
Type: Parasympathetic, function: thoracic and abdominal visceral activity.
Spinal accessory CN 11
Type: motor, function: neck and shoulder movement, assessment: push chin against hand and shrug shoulders.
Hypoglossal CN 12
Type: motor, function: tongue movement, assessment: move tongue side to side and against a tongue blade.
