Cranial Nerves

  1. I
    • Olfactory- sense of smell
    • First assess patency by occluding a nostril at a time. Then with eyes closed, occlude one nostril and present an aromatic substance.
  2. II
    • Optic- central and peripheral vision
    • Test visual acuity by confrontation.
  3. III
    • Occulomotor- Pupilary constriction
    • Dim lights, use penlight from side, and slowly bring to center, note response.
  4. IV
    • Trochlear- Move eyes down toward tip of nose.
    • Instruct patient to follow your finger while you move it down toward his nose
  5. V
    • Trigeminal- Face (forehead, cheek, jaw)
    • Check sensation in all three areas with cotton wisp. Use wisp to check corneal reflex-blink bilaterally
    • Palpate the temporal and masseter muscles as the person clenches teeth. Try to separate the jaws by pushing down on the chin.
  6. VI
    • Abducens- Eye movement to the sides
    • Ak patient to look toward each ear. Follow fingers through six cardinal fields of gaze. Observe for nystagmus or twitching.
  7. VII
    • Facial- facial movements and expression
    • Assess for facial symmetry. Blink, wrinkle forehead, close eyes, smile, puff cheeks, show teeth.
  8. VIII
    • Auditory
    • Whispered voice test, Weber, and Rinne tuning fork tests.
  9. IX
    • Glossopharyngeal- phonation and swallowing
    • Observe the patient's ability to swallow by noting how he handles secretions.
  10. X
    • Vagus- talking and swallowing
    • Ask patient to say Ahhhh. Uvula should be midline and palate should rise.
  11. XI
    • Spinal- neck and shoulder movement
    • Ask patient to raise shoulders against your hands. Turn head against your hand.
  12. XII
    • Hypoglossal- tongue
    • Stick out tounge, should be midline. Ask to say "light tight dynamite" and note lingual speech, letters l,t,d,n should be clear and distinct.
Author
Lamies10
ID
30276
Card Set
Cranial Nerves
Description
cranial nerves
Updated