Cranial Nerves Assessment

Question 1

Cranial Nerves Mneumonic

Answer 1

I - Oh - Olfactory
II - Oh - Optic
III - Oh - Occulomotor
IV - To - Trochlear
V - Touch - Trigeminal
VI- And - Abducens
VII- Feel - Facial
VIII - Virgin - Vestibucochlear
IX - Girls' - Glossopharyngeal
X - Vaginas - Vagus
XI - and - Accessory
XII - Hymens - Hypoglossal

Question 2

CN Assessment Step 1

Answer 2

NERVES - CN I (Olfactory)

TESTING - Smell

TESTS -
1. Any changes in sense of smell

Question 3

CN Assessment Step 2

Answer 3

NERVES - CN II (Optic)

TESTING - Visual acuity and visual fileds

TESTS -

1. Near and distant vision
2. Confrontation test (wiggly fingers)

Question 4

CN Assessment Step 3

Answer 4

NERVES - CN II (Optic) and CN III (Occulomotor)

TESTING - Pupils sense and reaction to light

TESTS -

1. PEARL,
2. Consensual (both change),
3. Accomodating (pupils change when finger gets closer)

Question 5

CN Assessment Step 4

Answer 5

NERVES - CN III (Oculomotor), CN IV (Trochlear) CN VI (Abducens)

TESTING - Eye Movements

TESTS -

1. H test
2. Convergance (yes move together as finger gets closer)
3. ?Nystagmus (jerking movement)
4. ? Ptosis (eyelid droop)

Question 6

CN Assessment 5

Answer 6

NERVES - CN V (Trigeminal)

TESTING - Motor (Jaw) & Sensory Face

TESTS -

1. Clench jaw (feel temporal & masseter muscles)
2. Move jaw laterally
3. Light touch in 3 facial divisions

Question 7

CN Assessment 6

Answer 7

NERVES - Facial (CN VII)

TESTING - Face movements

Tests -

1. Raise eyebrows
2. Frown
3. Close eyes tight
4. Smile
5. Show both upper and lower teeth
6. Puff cheeks
7. Purse lips

Question 8

CN Assessment 7

Answer 8

NERVES - CN VIII (Vestibulocochlear)

TESTING - Hearing & Balance

TESTS -

1. Rustle fingers test
2. Rhomburg’s test

Question 9

CN Assessment 8

Answer 9

NERVES - CN IX (Glossopharyngeal) & CN X (Vagus)

TESTING - Pharynx

TESTS -

1. Swallow – any difficulty?
2. Say ‘aaahhh’ – palate rises, uvula midline

Question 10

CN Assessment 9

Answer 10

NERVES - CN XI (Accessory)

TESTING - Trapezium & Sternocleidomastoid

TESTS -

1. Raise shoulders against resistance
2. Turn head against resistance

Question 11

CN Assessment 10

Answer 11

NERVES - CN XII (Hypoglossal)

TESTING - Tongue movement

Tests -

1. Stick out tongue (asymmetry, atrophy, deviation from midline)
2. Move form side to side