Cranial Nerves

Question 1

Cranial Nerve I

Answer 1

Olfactory
Sense of smell.
Sensory.
Ask client to smell substance with both eyes closed, testing each nostril separately.

Question 2

Cranial Nerve II

Answer 2

Optic
Vision
Sensory.
Snellen chart, confrontation to check peripheral vision, ophthalmoscopic exam.

Question 3

Cranial Nerve III

Answer 3

Oculomotor
eye movement
motor
Look up down and inward, ask client to follow finger as you move toward face.

Question 4

Cranial Nerve IV

Answer 4

Trochlear
controls down and inward eye movement
motor
look up, down, and inward.
Ask client to follow finger.

Question 5

Cranial Nerve V

Answer 5

Trigeminal
motor: mastication (biting and chewing)
sensory: facial sensation
Pressure on forehead, cheek, and jaw with a cotton swab to check sensation.
Ask client to open mouth then bite down.

Question 6

Cranial Nerve VI

Answer 6

Abducens
motor
controls outward eye movement
moving eyes from side to side.

Question 7

Cranial Nerve VII

Answer 7

Facial
Sensory: taste
Motor: facial movement, salivary glands, lacrimal gland.
Have patient smile, grown, puff out their cheeks, and raise eyebrows.

Question 8

Cranial Nerve VIII

Answer 8

Vestibulocochlear
Sensory
balance and hearing
stand with eyes closed, otoscopic exam, Rinne and Weber tests (tunning forks)

Question 9

Cranial Nerve IX

Answer 9

Glossopharyngeal
Motor: tongue movement and swallowing
Sensory: taste (sour and bitter)
Test tongue by giving client bitter, salty, and sour substance.

Question 10

Cranial Nerve X

Answer 10

Vagus
Motor: thoracic and abdominal viscera
Sensory: gag reflex, pharyngeal and laryngeal muscles
tongue suppression

Question 11

Cranial Nerve XI

Answer 11

Spinal Accessory
Motor
Controls strength of neck and shoulder muscles.
Ask patient to shrug shoulders and rotate their head.

Question 12

Cranial Nerve XII

Answer 12

Hypoglossal
Tongue movement
Inspect tongue and ask patient to stick tongue out.