cranial nerves for dentists

Question 1

cranial nerves

Answer 1

olfactory 
optic
oculomotor
trochlear
trigeminal
abducens
facial
vestibule cochlear
glossopharyngeal
vagal
accessory 
hypoglossal

Question 2

olfactory

Answer 2

smell

nasal epithelium to olfactory bulb

Question 3

optic nerve

Answer 3

vision
symptoms - loss vision blurry loss of colour/field
signs - reduced visual acuity, visual defects, impaired colour vision

Question 4

common aetiologies for optic nerve issues

Answer 4

inflammation
nutrition
vascular
raised ICP

Question 5

oculomotor

Answer 5

eye movement

parasympathetic innervation of pupil

Question 6

signs and symptoms for oculomotor nerve

Answer 6

symptoms
- double vision, droopy eyelid
signs
- ptosis
down and out eye
pupillary dialtion

Question 7

trochlear nerve

Answer 7

eye movement
intorsion
superior oblique muscle

Question 8

symptoms and signs of trochlear nerve

Answer 8

symptoms - double vision
signs - head tilt, eye movements normal
aetiologies - head injury
microvascular

Question 9

trigeminal

Answer 9

3 branches
opthalmic
md
mx

Question 10

function and symptoms for trigeminal

Answer 10

sensation of skin mucous membranes and face
motor to masseter and temporalis

symptoims
- facial pain or sensory disrtubance

Question 11

abducens nerve

Answer 11

longest cranial nerve
eye movement (lateral rectus)
symptoms
- double vision
signs
- reduced abduction

Question 12

aetiologies for abducens

Answer 12

raised ICP
ischaemia
inflammation

Question 13

facial nerve divisions

Answer 13

temporal zygomatic
buccal
mandibular
cervical

Question 14

function facial nerve

Answer 14

muscles of facial expression
taste to anterior 2/3
parasympathetic to lacrimal, sub m and sub lingual glands

Question 15

symptoms of facial nerve

Answer 15

facial weakness
upper - weakness of forehead
lower - weakness of hemiface

Question 16

common aetiologies for facial nerve

Answer 16

upper - stroke
lower
- inflammation

Question 17

vestibulocochlear

Answer 17

balance and hearing
symptoms
loss of hearing
vertigo
signs
 positive impulse test

Question 18

glossopharyngeal nerve

Answer 18

funciton

sensation from tonsils pharynx, middle ear poster 1/3 tongue

Question 19

symptoms and signs of glossopharyngeal nerve

Answer 19

Symptoms
-	loss of taste at back of tongue
-	impaired swallowing
signs
-	loss of gag reflex
-	loss of taste in posterior 1/3 tongue

Question 20

aetiologies for glossopharyngeal nerve

Answer 20

• vascular (stroke)
• inflammation
• skull base pathology eg masses or meningeal infiltration

Question 21

vagal nerve - function signs and symptom

Answer 21

Funciton
-	motor supply to pharynx and larynx (motor arm of gag reflex)
-	palatoglossus ( of tongue)
-	palatoglossus
-	parasympathetic supply to all organs except adrenals
Symptoms
-	change ins speech and swallowing
Signs
-	dysphonia (quiet/hoarse voice)
-	impaired cough
-	loss of gag relef

Question 22

accessory nerve

Answer 22

motor supply to trapezius and SCM

weakness of shoulder shrug and head turn

Question 23

hypoglossal nerve

Answer 23

motor supply to tongue except palatoglossal

altered speech and swallowing
tongue weakness, wastimg

aetiologies
- stroke
degenerative

Question 24

cavernous sinus

Answer 24

presence of multiple nerve palsies may lead to involvement of cavernous sinus
eg abnormal; eye movement may indicate involvement of several of the nerves in this area

Question 25

skull base

Answer 25

pathology involving the skull base
inflammation may start to affect adjacent cranial nerves
important to consider when there are several palsies found on examination