Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Head - 4 > testing cranial nerves > Flashcards

testing cranial nerves Flashcards

1
Q

what is the brainstem?

A

adjoins the brain to the spinal cord

continuous with spinal cord caudally

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

how many parts are there to the brainstem? what are they?

A

3:
1 - midbrain (most superior)
2 - pons
3 - medulla (most caudal - continuous with the spinal cord)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what is the role of the brainstem?

A

regulation of cardio-respiratory functions and maintaining consciousness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what runs through the brainstem?

A

ascending and descending fibres between the brain and rest of body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what is the brainstem the major location for?

A

majority of cranial nerve nuclei

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

what is nuclei?

A

collections of cell bodies of nerve fibres that make up the whole cranial nerve

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

how do you test for olfactory nerve (CN I)?

A

test 1 nostril at a time

smelling salts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

how do you test for optic nerve (CN II)?

A

test 1 eye at a time

visual tets and pupils

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

how are optic nerves usually seen?

A

directly with fundoscopy (see the optic disc)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what is different about olfactory and optic nerve?

A

paired anterior extensions of the forebrain rather than ‘true’ cranial nerves
arise from forebrain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what is optic nerve part of?

A

the visual pathway

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

describe the visual pathway

A

retina of the eyes –> optic nerve –> optic chiasm (mixing of fibres) –> optic tract –> (passes through thalamus) –> optic projection fibres –> visual cortex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

how do you test for oculomotor nerve (CN III)?

A

inspection of eyelid and pupils
eye movements
pupillary light reflexes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what is the course of oculomotor nerve?

A

runs through cavernous sinus after leaving midbrain, exits the cavernous sinus to enter the superior orbital fissure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what is the cavernous sinus?

A

full of venous plexus (interconnected veins), created by dura (periosteal and meningeal) - the 2 dura layers split creating the space called cavernous sinus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

which structure runs through the cavernous sinus?

A

internal carotid artery

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

clinical: how can infection spread to the cavernous sinus? leading to?

A

spread from the face, into cavernous sinus (thrombosis), blocking cavernous sinus, leading to pressure increase and compressing the oculomotor nerve (3rd nerve palsy)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

which lesions tend to involve the pupil? which do not?

A

compressive lesions involves pupil

vascular lesions spare pupil

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

how do you test for trochlear nerve? (CN IV)

A

eye movements

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what is the route taken by the trochlear nerve (CN IV)?

A

longest intracranial route of all CNs
only CN to arise from DORSAL aspect of brainstem
through superior orbital fissure into the orbit
passes through the cavernous sinus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

which 2 nerves arise from midbrain?

A

oculomotor

trochlear

22
Q

how do you test for trigeminal nerve?

A

sensation to face (sensory)

motor: muscles of mastication

23
Q

where do the 3 branches of the trigeminal nerve synapse before branching off?

A

trigeminal ganglion

24
Q

which of the 3 branches of the trigeminal nerve are most superior (forehead)?

A

opthalmic (forehead) > maxillary (zygomatic bone - cheeks) > mandibular (most inferior - chin)

25
Q

how do you test for abducens nerve (CN VI)?

A

eye movements

26
Q

what is the route taken by the abducens nerve?

A

pons –> cavernous sinus –> superior orbital fissure –> orbit –> lateral rectus muscle

27
Q

how come abducens nerve is easily stretched? (CN VI)

A

nerve can be easily stretched in raised ICP due to its running under the surface of the pons upwards towards cavernous sinus

28
Q

how do you test for motor function of facial nerve (CN VII)?

A

muscles of facial expression

29
Q

how do you test for special sensory of facial nerve (CN VII)?

A

anterior 2/3 tongue (taste)

30
Q

what are the autonomic parasympathetic innervation of the facial nerve?

A

lacrimal and salivary glands

31
Q

how do you test for vestibulocochlear nerve? (CN VIII)

A

hearing

Rinne’s and Weber’s test

32
Q

what is the route taken by vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)?

A

through internal acoustic meatus

through same hole as ear - petrous part of temporal bone

33
Q

what is an acoustic neuroma also known as?

A

schwannoma

34
Q

where do acoustic neuroma commonly occur?

A

in the cerebellopontine angle

35
Q

what does an acoustic neuroma in the cerebellopontine angle lead to?

A

compromising cranial nerves V, VII, VIII

36
Q

what are the 4 cranial nerves arising from pons?

A

trigeminal (V)
abducens (VI)
facial (VII)
vestibulocochlear (VIII)

37
Q

how do you test for the glossopharyngeal nerve?

A

gag reflex (sensory limb)
taste not often formally tested
tested in conjunction with CN X

38
Q

course of glossopharyngeal nerve?

A

medulla oblongata –> jugular foramen

39
Q

function of carotid branch of glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)?

A

carries sensory (afferent signal) from carotid body (chemoreceptors - blood oxygen and CO2 levels) to cardiorespiratory centres in brain medulla

40
Q

testing for vagus nerve (CN X)?

A

noting speech
swallow
cough
gag reflex (efferent limb)

41
Q

route of vagus nerve (CN X)?

A

brainstem medulla –> jugular foramen

42
Q

where does left recurrent laryngeal nerve travel under?

A

arch of aorta

43
Q

where does right recurrent laryngeal nerve travel under?

A

right subclavian artery

44
Q

how do you test for spinal accessory nerve (CN XI)?

A

shrug shoulders

turn head against resistance

45
Q

route of spinal accessory nerve (CN XI)?

A

through jugular foramen

46
Q

how do you test for hypoglossal nerve (XII)?

A

inspection and movement of the tongue

47
Q

route of hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)?

A

medulla –> hypoglossal canal –> supply muscles of tongue

48
Q

where does CN XII run?

A

runs medial to angle of mandible; crosses internal and external carotid arteries in neck

49
Q

which are the 4 nerves from the medulla?

A

glossopharyngeal
vagus
accessory
hypoglossal

50
Q

what are the 4 sections of cranial nerve origins on the brain and nerves in each section?

A

brain - I, II
midbrain - III, IV
pons - V, VI, VII, VIII
medulla - IX, X, XI, XII

Head - 4 (111 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions