Cranial Nerves Additional

Question 1

Loss of smell (anosmia)

Answer 1

Olfactory nerve [I]

Question 2

Injury to the cribriform plate; congenital absence

Answer 2

Olfactory nerve [I]

Question 3

Blindness/visual field abnormalities, loss of pupillary constriction

Answer 3

Optic nerve [II]

Question 4

Direct trauma to the orbit; disruption of the optic pathway

Answer 4

Optic nerve [II]

Question 5

Dilated pupil, ptosis, loss of normal pupillary reflex, eye moves down inferiorly and laterally (down and out)

Answer 5

Oculomotor nerve [III]

Question 6

Pressure from an aneurysm arising from the posterior communicating, posterior cerebral, or superior cerebellar artery; pressure from a herniating cerebral uncus (false localizing sign); cavernous sinus mass or thrombosis

Answer 6

Oculomotor nerve [III]

Question 7

Inability to look inferiorly when the eye is adducted (down and in)

Answer 7

Trochlear nerve [IV]

Question 8

Along the course of the nerve around the brainstem; orbital fracture

Answer 8

Trochlear nerve [IV]

Question 9

Loss of sensation and pain in the region supplied by the three divisions of the nerve over the face; loss of motor function of the muscles of mastication on the side of the lesion

Answer 9

Trigeminal nerve [V]

Question 10

Typically, in the region of the trigeminal ganglion, though local masses around the foramina through which the divisions pass can produce symptoms

Answer 10

Trigeminal nerve [V]

Question 11

Inability of lateral eye movement

Answer 11

Abducent nerve [VI]

Question 12

Brain lesion or cavernous sinus lesion extending onto the orbit

Answer 12

Abducent nerve [VI]

Question 13

Paralysis of facial muscles
Abnormal taste sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and dry conjunctivae
Paralysis of contralateral facial muscles below the eye

Answer 13

Facial nerve [VII]

Question 14

Damage to the branches within the parotid gland Injury to temporal bone; viral inflammation of nerve
Brainstem injury

Answer 14

Facial nerve [VII]

Question 15

Progressive unilateral hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ear)

Answer 15

Vestibulocochlear nerve [VIII]

Question 16

Tumor at the cerebellopontine angle

Answer 16

Vestibulocochlear nerve [VIII]

Question 17

Loss of taste to the posterior one-third of the tongue and sensation of the soft palate

Answer 17

Glossopharyngeal nerve [IX]

Question 18

Brainstem lesion; penetrating neck injury

Answer 18

Glossopharyngeal nerve [IX] or Vagus nerve [X]

Question 19

Soft palate deviation with deviation of the uvula to the normal side; vocal cord paralysis

Answer 19

Vagus nerve [X]

Question 20

Paralysis of sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles

Answer 20

Accessory nerve [XI]

Question 21

Penetrating injury to the posterior triangle of the neck

Answer 21

Accessory nerve [XI]

Question 22

Atrophy of ipsilateral muscles of the tongue and deviation toward the affected side; speech disturbance

Answer 22

Hypoglossal nerve [XII]

Question 23

Penetrating injury to the neck and skull base pathology

Answer 23

Hypoglossal nerve [XII]