Cranial Nerves Flashcards
How do you test a patients mental state?
New memory
Recent memory
Remote memory
Orientation
An example of how you would test a patients new memory?
Give 3 new words, ask them to repeat the words and then return to these later, asking the patient to repeat them to you.
An example of how you would test a patients recent memory?
Ask them a recent relevant question. i.e. what was the weather like this morning? What did you have for breakfast?
An example of how you would test a patients remote memory?
Ask questions, i.e. who is the king? who is the prime minister? who do I work for?
An example of how you would test a patients orientation?
Time - which day is it and what time of day is it?
Place - where are you?
Person - who is this?
What is the name of the first cranial nerve?
CN I - Olfactory
Is cranial nerve I, Olfactory nerve, sensory or motor?
Sensory
How do we test the cranial nerve I (olfactory)?
Sense of smell
Test each nostril with a strong smell
What is a loss of smell also known as?
Anosmia
What is the name of the second cranial nerve?
CN II - Optic Nerve
Is cranial nerve I, optic nerve, sensory or motor?
Sensory
Which 3 tests do we use to test cranial nerve II (Optic nerve)?
Visual Acuity
Visual Fields
Fundoscopy
How would you test a patients visual acuity for cranial nerve II (Optic nerve)?
Like a sight test, patient should wear glasses if they need to
Cover one eye, read something around 6 ft away.
Cover other eye and do the same
If a smellen chart is available use that.
How would you test a patients visual fields for cranial nerve II (Optic nerve)?
Stand 1m from pt with arms outstretched. Instruct pt not to move eyes or head
Wiggle fingers in periphery of vision (compare to your own peripheral vision)
Patient to tell you which finger(s) are wiggling
Stand 1m from pt. Pt covers right eye, you cover left eye.
Bring finger from outside of line of vision to periphery of vision and pt tells you when they can see it (compared to your vision)
Test 4 positions on each eye
What is fundoscopy?
The assessment of the fundus using an ophthalmoscope
How would you test cranial nerve II (Optic nerve) using fundocsopy?
Dim the lights
Ask the patient to fixate on a distant targer
Approach the patient from the side
Examine the optic nerve and surrounding retina
What can be seen in this picture?
Fundus
More specifically the left fundus
When observing a patients fundus what are you observing for / or lack thereof?
Shine light into the eye, look for a red reflex - an absence of red reflex = cataracts
Examine the eye for:
Lens for opacities - cataracts may cause and prevent full examination of the fundus
Disc - this is found by following a large retinal vein back towards the disc as all veins radiate from the disc
Look for the disc which is yellowish orange to creamy pink oval or round in structure
The optic disc normally measures 1.5mm
The ophthalmoscope magnifies the normal retina about 15 times
Optic disc is the nose side of the face
Retinal arteries, light red and smaller
Retinal veins, dark red and larger than arteries
Which 3 cranial nerves do we test together?
CN III Oculomotor
CN IV Trochlear
CN VI Abducens
Is cranial nerve III, Oculomotor nerve, sensory or motor?
Motor
Is cranial nerve IV, trochlear nerve, sensory or motor?
Motor
Is cranial nerve VI, abducens nerve, sensory or motor?
Motor
When testing cranial nerves III, IV and VI (III Oculomotor, IV Trochlear, VI Abducens) what are we first observing the eyes for?
Ptosis - dropping of the eyelid/eyelids
Palpebral fissures - gap between upper eyelid and lower eyelid. A slight difference may be noted in 1/3rd of the population
When testing cranial nerve III (oculomotor), what should you test the pupils for?
Constriction of the pupils
Check for consensual reflex - when both pupils constrict, even though light has only been shone in one eye
Which cranial nerves would you perform the + test for?
cranial nerves III, IV and VI (III Oculomotor, IV Trochlear, VI Abducens)
How do you perform the + test?
Ensure patient keeps their head still
Ask patient to follow an object with their eyes as you draw a + with your finger
Up and down test superior and inferior rectus
Left and right tests medial and lateral rectus
How do you perform a H test?
Draw a H with your finger, ask patient to follow along with eyes, pause slightly at end of each horizontal plane and check for nystagmus - test horizontal and vertical gaze
Superior oblique pulls eye down and out
Inferior oblique pulls eye up and out
Which cranial nerves are you testing when performing a H+ test?
cranial nerves III, IV and VI (III Oculomotor, IV Trochlear, VI Abducens)