Cranial Nerves

Question 1

HOW MANY CRANIAL NERVES ARE THERE?

Answer 1

12PAIRS
24 TOTAL

Question 2

FIRST CRANIAL NERVE:

Answer 2

( I ) OLFACTORY: SENSE OF SMELL, USUALLY NOT TESTED.

Question 3

SECOND CRANIAL NERVE:

Answer 3

( II ) OPTIC: VISION, LIGHT AND PERCEPTION OF OBJECTS, TEST ONE EYE AT A TIME BY HAVING PATIENT READ. LOOK FOR BLURRED, LOST, SPOTTY, OR TUNNEL VISION. ADDITIONAL TESTING DONE BY WIGGLING FINGERS UP DOWN LEFT, AND RIGHT AND MATCH PATIENTS VISION WITH YOURS.

Question 4

WHAT THREE NERVES CAN BE TESTED AT THE SAME TIME?

Answer 4

( III ) OCCULOMOTOR
( IV ) TROCHLEAR
( VI ) ABDUCENS

ALL 3 CONTROL EYE MOVEMENT. TEST BY HAVING PT’S EYES FOLLOW EXAMINER’S FINGER IN QUADRANTS, THEN IN TOWARDS THE NOSE. ADDITIONAL TESTING DONE BY SHINING LIGHT INTO EACH EYE ONE AT A TIME LOOKING FOR NORMAL PUPIL CONSTRICTION IN BOTH EYES.

Question 5

THIRD CRANIAL NERVE:

Answer 5

( III ) OCCULOMOTOR: CONTROLS EYE MOVEMENT. TEST BY HAVING PT’S EYES FOLLOW EXAMINER’S FINGER IN QUADRANTS, THEN IN TOWARDS THE NOSE. ADDITIONAL TESTING DONE BY SHINING LIGHT INTO EACH EYE ONE AT A TIME LOOKING FOR NORMAL PUPIL CONSTRICTION IN BOTH EYES.

Question 6

FOURTH CRANIAL NERVE:

Answer 6

( IV ) TROCHLEAR
CONTROLS EYE MOVEMENT. TEST BY HAVING PT’S EYES FOLLOW EXAMINER’S FINGER IN QUADRANTS, THEN IN TOWARDS THE NOSE. ADDITIONAL TESTING DONE BY SHINING LIGHT INTO EACH EYE ONE AT A TIME LOOKING FOR NORMAL PUPIL CONSTRICTION IN BOTH EYES.

Question 7

FIFTH CRANIAL NERVE:

Answer 7

( V ) TRIGEMINAL:
GOVERNS THE SENSATION OF THE FACE, FORHEAD, AND CLENCHING OF THE JAW. TESTED BY STROKING THE PT ON THE FORHEAD, FACE, AND JAW ON EACH SIDE WITH FINGERS.

Question 8

SIXTH CRANIAL NERVE:

Answer 8

( VI ) ABDUCENS:
CONTROLS EYE MOVEMENT. TEST BY HAVING PT’S EYES FOLLOW EXAMINER’S FINGER IN QUADRANTS, THEN IN TOWARDS THE NOSE. ADDITIONAL TESTING DONE BY SHINING LIGHT INTO EACH EYE ONE AT A TIME LOOKING FOR NORMAL PUPIL CONSTRICTION IN BOTH EYES.

Question 9

SEVENTH CRANIAL NERVE:

Answer 9

( VII ) FACIAL:
CONTROLS FACE MUSCLES.
TESTED BY HAVING PT SMILE, SHOW TEETH, WHISTLE, WRINKLE FORHEAD, AND CLOSE EYES TIGHTLY. BOTH SIDES OF FACE SHOULD BE THE SAME WHEN NO SYMPTOMS PRESENT.

Question 10

EIGHTH CRANIAL NERVE:

Answer 10

( VIII ) ACCOUSTIC:
CONTROLS HEARING AND BALANCE. TESTED BY WHISPERING TO PT, RUBBING TWO FINGERS TOGETHER NEXT TO PT EARS, OR USING A TUNING FORK. COMPARE WITH PTS OTHER EAR.

Question 11

NINTH CRANIAL NERVE:

Answer 11

( IX ) GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL:
CONTROLS SENSATION OF UPPER MOUTH, THROAT, AND GAG REFLEX. TESTED BY ACTIVATING GAG REFLEX WITH TOUNGE DEPRESSOR. NOT NORMALLY TESTED.

Question 12

TENTH CRANIAL NERVE:

Answer 12

( X ) VAGUS:
CONTROLS ROOF OF MOUTH AND VOCAL CHORDS. TESTED BY HAVING PT SAY, “AAH,” WHILE WATCHING THE PALATE RISE. HOARSE VOICE MAY INDICATE VAGUS NERVE INVOLVEMENT.

Question 13

ELEVENTH CRANIAL NERVE:

Answer 13

( XI ) SPINAL ACCESSORY:
CONTROLS TURNING OF THE HEAD SIDE TO SIDE AND SHOULDER SHRUGS. TESTED BY RESISTING TURNING OF THE HEAD L/R AND SHRUGGING AGAINST THE EXAMINERS HANDS.

Question 14

TWELFTH CRANIAL NERVE:

Answer 14

( XII ) HYPOGLOSSAL:
CONTROLS MOVEMENT OF THE TOUNGE. TESTED BY OBSERVING TOUNGE STICKING OUT OF PT’S MOUTH. INJURY IS PRESENT WHEN TOUNGE STICKS OUT TO ONE SIDE, POINTING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE DAMGE.

Question 15

WHAT IS THE ACCRONYM FOR REMEMBERING THE 12 CRANIAL NERVES?

Answer 15

O
O
O
T
T
A
F
A
G
V
S
H

Question 16

HOW MANY CRANIAL NERVES ARE THERE?

Answer 16

12 PAIRS. 24 TOTAL.

Question 17

WHICH TWO CRANIAL NERVES ARE NOT NORMALLY TESTED?

Answer 17

( I ) OLFACTORY
(IX ) GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL

Question 18

NAME ALL CRANIAL NERVES IN ORDER

Answer 18

I: OLFACTORY
II: OPTIC
III: OCULOMOTOR
IV: TROCLEAR
V: TRIGEMINAL
VI:ABDUCENS
VII: FACIAL
VIII: ACOUSTIC
IX: GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL
X: VAGUS
XI: SPINAL ACCESSORY
XII: HYPOGLOSSAL