NU 305 Cranial nerve tests

Question 1

What is the cranial nerve I test?

Answer 1

Eyes closed, occlude one nostril, present familiar aromatic substance. Identify oder with each side of nose.

Question 2

What is the cranial nerve II test?

Answer 2

• Test visual acuity and visual fields by confrontation.
• Using ophthalmoscope, examine ocular fundus to determine color, size, and shape of optic disc
  Often use Snellen chart to asses

Question 3

What is the test for cranial nerves III, IV, and VI?

Answer 3

• Check pupils for size, regularity, equality, direct and consensual light reaction, and accommodation
• Assess extraocular movements by cardinal positions of gaze

Question 4

What is the motor test for cranial nerve V?

Answer 4

Motor: assess muscles of mastication by palpating temporal and masseter muscles as person clenches teeth

Question 5

What is the sensory test for cranial nerve V?

Answer 5

Sensory: eyes closed, test light touch sensation buy touching a cotton wisp to designated areas on person’s face, forehead, cheeks, and chin

Question 6

What is the motor test for cranial nerve VII?

Answer 6

Motor: Note mobility and facial symmetry as person responds to requests to smile, frown, close eyes tightly (against your attempt to open them), lift eyebrows, show teeth. Then, have person puff cheeks, then press puffed cheeks in, to see that air escapes equally from both sides.

Question 7

What is the sensory test for cranial nerve VII?

Answer 7

Sensory: Test only when suspected facial nerve injury. When indicated, test sense of taste by applying cotton tip applicator covered with solution of sugar, salt, or lemon juice to tongue and ask person to identify taste

Question 8

What is the test for cranial nerve VIII?

Answer 8

Test hearing acuity by ability to hear normal conversation and by whispered voice test

Question 9

What is the motory test for cranial nerves IX and X?

Answer 9

Motor: depress tongue with tongue blade, and note pharyngeal movement as person says “ahhh” or yawns; uvula and soft palate should rise in midline and tonsil lair pillars should move medially. Touch posterior pharyngeal wall with tongue blade, and note gag reflex; voice should sound smooth not strained

Question 10

What is the sensory test for cranial nerves IX and X?

Answer 10

Sensory: Cranial nerve IX does mediate taste on posterior one third of tongue, but technically too difficult to test

Question 11

What is the test for cranial nerve XI?

Answer 11

• Examine sternomastoid and trapezius muscles for equal size.
• Check equal strength by asking person to rotate head against resistance applied to side of chin
• Ask person to shrug shoulders against resistance
• These movements should feel equally strong on both sides

Question 12

What is the test for cranial nerve XII?

Answer 12

• Inspect tongue; no wasting or tremors should be present
• Note forward thrust in midline as person protrudes tongue.
• Ask person to say “light, tight, dynamite,” and note that lingual speech (sounds of letter l,t,d,n) is clear and distinct