Cranial Nerve Tests

Question 1

CN I

Answer 1

• Olfactory
• Sensory
• Finger on one nostril and have them smell one scent. Repeat other side with different scent.

Question 2

CN II

Answer 2

• Optic
• Sensory
• Have patient read something
• Shine light into the patients eye on each side 2x (Looking at each eye one time on that side)

Question 3

CN III

Answer 3

• Oculomotor
• Motor and Autonomic
• H Test

Question 4

CN IV

Answer 4

• Trochlear
• Motor
• H Test (Bring finger toward patients nose)

Question 5

CN V

Answer 5

• Trigeminal
• Sensory and Motor
• Sensation Test on forehead, cheek and jaw
• Palpate masseter with clenched jaw

Question 6

CN VI

Answer 6

• Abducens
• Motor
• H Test (Abduction of eye)

Question 7

CN VII

Answer 7

• Facial
• Sensory, Motor, Autonomic
• Facial Expressions: Smile, Frown, Depress Eyebrow, Puff out Cheeks

Question 8

CN VIII

Answer 8

• Vestibulocochlear
• Sensory
• Patients Eyes Closed; Rubbing fingers together on either side must indicate which side then proceed to getting farther away to compare sides

Question 9

CN IX and CN X

Answer 9

• Glossopharyngeal (Sensory, Motor, Autonomic) and Vagus (S, M, A)
• Open tongue and say ahh; Observe uvula (no lateral deviation)
• Ask to swallow

Question 10

CN XI

Answer 10

• Spinal Accessory
• Motor
• Shrug Shoulders, Resist downward motions

Question 11

CN XII

Answer 11

• Hypoglossal
• Motor
• Stick out tongue, move tongue side to side

Question 12

When doing Vagus and performing ahh, the uvula shifts to the right. What is wrong?

Answer 12

• Muscle on left isn’t working. Vagus damaged.

Question 13

When sticking out the tongue and it shifts right, what side is damaged?

Answer 13

The right!
Hypoglossal isn’t working.