| Question | Answer |
| Examination of CN I integrity and abnormal findings | Identification of familiar odors (e.g. chocolate, coffee)
Possible abnormal findings: Anosmia (inability to detect smells), seen with frontal lobe lesions |
| Examination of CN II integrity and abnormal findings | Test visual acuity
Central: Snellen eye chart, test each eye separately by covering other eye, test at distance of 20 ft.
Abnormal findings: Blindness; myopia(impaired far vision); Presbyopia (impaired near vision;
Homonoymous hemianopsia |
| Examination of CN III integrity and abnormal findings | Test upward, downward, and medial gaze. Test reaction to light
Abnormal findings: Aniscoria (unequal pupils;Horner's syndrome)
Strabismus: eye pulled outward by CN VI, Ptosis, pupillary dilation, inability to look up down or medially |
| Examination of CN IV integrity and abnormal findings | Test: persuit eye movement
- Superior oblique turns an adducted eye downward
Abnormality: eye cannot look down when it is adducted. |
| Examination of CN V integrity and abnormal findings | Test pain light touch sensations on forehead, cheeks and jaw (eyes closed)
Test corneal reflex
Abnormalities: loss of facial sensations. Loss of corneal reflex ipsilaterally (blinking in response to corneal touch) |
| Examination of CN VI integrity and abnormal findings | Test: Lateral gaze
Abnormal findings: Esotropia(eye pulled inward), eye cannot look outward |
| Examination of CN VII integrity and abnormal findings | Test motor function of facial muscles: Raise eyebrows, frown, show teeth, smile, close eyes tightly, Puff out both cheeks
Abnormality:Paralysis of ipsilateral facial muscles, inability to close eye, droop in corner of mouth,(bells palsy) |
| Examination of CN VIII integrity and abnormal findings | Test balance: vestibulospinal function
Abnormal finding: vertigo, dysequilibrium
Test: eye-head coordination: vestibular ocular reflex (VOR)
Abnormal finding: gaze instability with head rotations; nystagmus
Test: hearing, --Deafness, tinnitus |
| Examination of CN IX integrity and abnormal findings | Test: Gag reflex: stimulate back of throat lightly; ability to swallow
Abnormal findings: absent gag reflex |
| Examination of CN X integrity and abnormal findings | Examine for difficulty in swallowing
"Say Ahh" observe motion of soft palate (should elevate) and uvula (should remain midline)
Abnormal findings: Dysphonia: hoarseness denotes vocal cord paralysis ;Dysphagia;palate fails to elevate |
| Examination of CN XI integrity and abnormal findings | Examine bulk;strength, resisted shoulder shrug, turn head to each side against resistance
Abnormal findings: inability to turn head to opposite side; inability to shrug ipsilateral shoulder;shoulder droops; atrophy, fasiculations, weakness. |
| Examination of CN XII integrity and abnormal findings | Test: tongue protrusion, listen to patients articulation
Abnormality: if injured tongue deviates toward injured side.
Dysarthria (lesions of CN X or XII). Atrophy or fasiculations of tongue. |
