NUR 611 Final Exam Review |
Questions and Answers | 2026
Updated | 100% Correct - Utica
College.
SECTION 1: CRANIAL NERVES & NEUROLOGICAL
ASSESSMENT
Question 1
What are the names and functions of the 12 cranial nerves?
A) CN I Olfactory (smell), CN II Optic (vision), CN III Oculomotor (eye movement), CN IV
Trochlear (downward/inward eye movement), CN V Trigeminal (facial sensation,
chewing), CN VI Abducens (lateral eye movement), CN VII Facial (facial expressions,
taste), CN VIII Vestibulocochlear (hearing and balance), CN IX Glossopharyngeal
(swallowing, taste), CN X Vagus (swallowing, speech, parasympathetic), CN XI Accessory
(shoulder/head movement), CN XII Hypoglossal (tongue movement)
B) CN I Optic, CN II Olfactory, CN III Trochlear
,C) Only CN V, VII, IX, X, XII are important
D) Cranial nerves are not assessed in nursing practice
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The 12 cranial nerves have specific functions: CN I (Olfactory) is for smell; CN II
(Optic) for vision; CN III (Oculomotor), CN IV (Trochlear), and CN VI (Abducens) for eye
movements; CN V (Trigeminal) for facial sensation and chewing; CN VII (Facial) for facial
expressions and taste; CN VIII (Vestibulocochlear) for hearing and balance; CN IX
(Glossopharyngeal) for swallowing and taste; CN X (Vagus) for swallowing, speech, and
parasympathetic functions; CN XI (Accessory) for shoulder and head movement; CN XII
(Hypoglossal) for tongue movement .
Question 2
How do you test the Olfactory nerve (CN I)?
A) Test visual acuity with a Snellen chart
B) Ask the patient to identify familiar smells with eyes closed
C) Assess extraocular movements
D) Test the gag reflex
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Olfactory nerve (CN I) is tested by asking the patient to identify familiar
smells with their eyes closed. This assesses the sense of smell .
Question 3
Which cranial nerve is assessed by testing the gag reflex?
A) CN V (Trigeminal)
B) CN VII (Facial)
C) CN IX (Glossopharyngeal) and CN X (Vagus)
D) CN XII (Hypoglossal)
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The gag reflex tests both CN IX (Glossopharyngeal) for the afferent (sensory)
limb and CN X (Vagus) for the efferent (motor) limb. This assesses the integrity of the
swallowing and protective airway reflexes .
Question 4
How do you test the Trigeminal nerve (CN V)?
A) Assess facial expressions
B) Test visual acuity
C) Assess facial sensation and jaw clenching
D) Test hearing
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Trigeminal nerve (CN V) is tested by assessing facial sensation (light touch,
pain, temperature) and motor function (jaw clenching). This evaluates both sensory and
motor components of the nerve .
Question 5
How do you test the Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)?
A) Assess shoulder shrug
B) Ask patient to protrude tongue and move it side to side
C) Test visual fields
D) Assess pupil response
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) controls tongue movement. To test it, ask the
patient to protrude the tongue and move it side to side. Deviation or weakness indicates
nerve damage .
, Question 6
Which cranial nerve controls lateral eye movement?
A) CN III (Oculomotor)
B) CN IV (Trochlear)
C) CN VI (Abducens)
D) CN II (Optic)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Abducens nerve (CN VI) controls lateral eye movement (abduction). CN III
controls most eye movements and pupil constriction; CN IV controls downward and
inward eye movement .
Question 7
Which cranial nerve is responsible for facial expressions and taste?
A) CN V (Trigeminal)
B) CN VII (Facial)
C) CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
D) CN XII (Hypoglossal)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Facial nerve (CN VII) controls facial expressions (motor) and taste on the
anterior two-thirds of the tongue (sensory). It is tested by asking the patient to smile, raise
eyebrows, and close eyes tightly .
Question 8
How do you test the Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)?
Questions and Answers | 2026
Updated | 100% Correct - Utica
College.
SECTION 1: CRANIAL NERVES & NEUROLOGICAL
ASSESSMENT
Question 1
What are the names and functions of the 12 cranial nerves?
A) CN I Olfactory (smell), CN II Optic (vision), CN III Oculomotor (eye movement), CN IV
Trochlear (downward/inward eye movement), CN V Trigeminal (facial sensation,
chewing), CN VI Abducens (lateral eye movement), CN VII Facial (facial expressions,
taste), CN VIII Vestibulocochlear (hearing and balance), CN IX Glossopharyngeal
(swallowing, taste), CN X Vagus (swallowing, speech, parasympathetic), CN XI Accessory
(shoulder/head movement), CN XII Hypoglossal (tongue movement)
B) CN I Optic, CN II Olfactory, CN III Trochlear
,C) Only CN V, VII, IX, X, XII are important
D) Cranial nerves are not assessed in nursing practice
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The 12 cranial nerves have specific functions: CN I (Olfactory) is for smell; CN II
(Optic) for vision; CN III (Oculomotor), CN IV (Trochlear), and CN VI (Abducens) for eye
movements; CN V (Trigeminal) for facial sensation and chewing; CN VII (Facial) for facial
expressions and taste; CN VIII (Vestibulocochlear) for hearing and balance; CN IX
(Glossopharyngeal) for swallowing and taste; CN X (Vagus) for swallowing, speech, and
parasympathetic functions; CN XI (Accessory) for shoulder and head movement; CN XII
(Hypoglossal) for tongue movement .
Question 2
How do you test the Olfactory nerve (CN I)?
A) Test visual acuity with a Snellen chart
B) Ask the patient to identify familiar smells with eyes closed
C) Assess extraocular movements
D) Test the gag reflex
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Olfactory nerve (CN I) is tested by asking the patient to identify familiar
smells with their eyes closed. This assesses the sense of smell .
Question 3
Which cranial nerve is assessed by testing the gag reflex?
A) CN V (Trigeminal)
B) CN VII (Facial)
C) CN IX (Glossopharyngeal) and CN X (Vagus)
D) CN XII (Hypoglossal)
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The gag reflex tests both CN IX (Glossopharyngeal) for the afferent (sensory)
limb and CN X (Vagus) for the efferent (motor) limb. This assesses the integrity of the
swallowing and protective airway reflexes .
Question 4
How do you test the Trigeminal nerve (CN V)?
A) Assess facial expressions
B) Test visual acuity
C) Assess facial sensation and jaw clenching
D) Test hearing
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Trigeminal nerve (CN V) is tested by assessing facial sensation (light touch,
pain, temperature) and motor function (jaw clenching). This evaluates both sensory and
motor components of the nerve .
Question 5
How do you test the Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)?
A) Assess shoulder shrug
B) Ask patient to protrude tongue and move it side to side
C) Test visual fields
D) Assess pupil response
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) controls tongue movement. To test it, ask the
patient to protrude the tongue and move it side to side. Deviation or weakness indicates
nerve damage .
, Question 6
Which cranial nerve controls lateral eye movement?
A) CN III (Oculomotor)
B) CN IV (Trochlear)
C) CN VI (Abducens)
D) CN II (Optic)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Abducens nerve (CN VI) controls lateral eye movement (abduction). CN III
controls most eye movements and pupil constriction; CN IV controls downward and
inward eye movement .
Question 7
Which cranial nerve is responsible for facial expressions and taste?
A) CN V (Trigeminal)
B) CN VII (Facial)
C) CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
D) CN XII (Hypoglossal)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Facial nerve (CN VII) controls facial expressions (motor) and taste on the
anterior two-thirds of the tongue (sensory). It is tested by asking the patient to smile, raise
eyebrows, and close eyes tightly .
Question 8
How do you test the Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)?
