3035 Lecture - Week Four
structure and function of central nervous system
brain (cerebrum, diencephalon, brain stem, cerebellum)
spinal cord
neural pathways
structure and function
peripheral nervous system - cranial and spinal nerves
as well as autonomic nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic)
cranial nerves impulses
i Some
ii Say
iii Marry
IV Money
V But
VI My
VII Brother
VIII Says
IX Big
X Brains
XI Matter
XII More
cranial nerves in order
,I. Olfactory
II. Optic
III. Oculomotor
IV. Trochlear
V. Trigeminal
VI. Abducens
VII. Facial
VIII. Vestibulocochlear, Acoustic
IX. Glossopharyngeal
X. Vagus
XI. Spinal accessory
XII. Hypoglossal
how you test each cranial nerve
CN I (Olfactory):
Ask the patient to close their eyes and identify a familiar scent, such as an alcohol pad or coffee,
presented to each nostril.
CN II (Optic):
Test visual acuity using a Snellen chart and evaluate visual fields by having the patient cover one
eye and report when they see your moving fingers in different quadrants of their vision.
CN III, IV, VI (Oculomotor, Trochlear, Abducens):
Have the patient follow a light source or your finger with their eyes, assessing for any nystagmus
(involuntary eye shaking) or misalignment. Test the pupillary light reflex by shining a light in
each eye and observing pupil constriction.
, CN V (Trigeminal):
For sensory function, lightly touch the patient's forehead, cheeks, and jaw with a cotton ball or a
blunt pin, asking them to differentiate between dull and sharp sensations on both sides of their
face. Test motor function by having the patient clench their teeth and then open their mouth
against resistance.
CN VII (Facial):
Ask pt to raise their eyebrows, close their eyes tightly against resistance, puff out their cheeks,
and smile to assess facial muscle strength.
CN VIII (Vestibulocochlear):
Test hearing by whispering a number into each ear while the pt blocks sounds from the other ear.
CN IX (Glossopharyngeal) & X (Vagus):
Ask pt to say "ah" to see if their soft palate rises symmetrically. You can also test the gag reflex
by stimulating the posterior pharynx with a tongue blade, though this is not always done.
CN XI (Accessory):
Have pt shrug their shoulders against resistance to test the trapezius muscles and turn their head
against your hand on their jaw to test the sternocleidomastoid muscles.
CN XII (Hypoglossal):
Ask pt to stick out their tongue and observe for any deviation to one side, as well as any atrophy
or fasciculations (muscle twitching).
subjective data collection of neuro assessment
COLDSPA
headaches
seizures
structure and function of central nervous system
brain (cerebrum, diencephalon, brain stem, cerebellum)
spinal cord
neural pathways
structure and function
peripheral nervous system - cranial and spinal nerves
as well as autonomic nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic)
cranial nerves impulses
i Some
ii Say
iii Marry
IV Money
V But
VI My
VII Brother
VIII Says
IX Big
X Brains
XI Matter
XII More
cranial nerves in order
,I. Olfactory
II. Optic
III. Oculomotor
IV. Trochlear
V. Trigeminal
VI. Abducens
VII. Facial
VIII. Vestibulocochlear, Acoustic
IX. Glossopharyngeal
X. Vagus
XI. Spinal accessory
XII. Hypoglossal
how you test each cranial nerve
CN I (Olfactory):
Ask the patient to close their eyes and identify a familiar scent, such as an alcohol pad or coffee,
presented to each nostril.
CN II (Optic):
Test visual acuity using a Snellen chart and evaluate visual fields by having the patient cover one
eye and report when they see your moving fingers in different quadrants of their vision.
CN III, IV, VI (Oculomotor, Trochlear, Abducens):
Have the patient follow a light source or your finger with their eyes, assessing for any nystagmus
(involuntary eye shaking) or misalignment. Test the pupillary light reflex by shining a light in
each eye and observing pupil constriction.
, CN V (Trigeminal):
For sensory function, lightly touch the patient's forehead, cheeks, and jaw with a cotton ball or a
blunt pin, asking them to differentiate between dull and sharp sensations on both sides of their
face. Test motor function by having the patient clench their teeth and then open their mouth
against resistance.
CN VII (Facial):
Ask pt to raise their eyebrows, close their eyes tightly against resistance, puff out their cheeks,
and smile to assess facial muscle strength.
CN VIII (Vestibulocochlear):
Test hearing by whispering a number into each ear while the pt blocks sounds from the other ear.
CN IX (Glossopharyngeal) & X (Vagus):
Ask pt to say "ah" to see if their soft palate rises symmetrically. You can also test the gag reflex
by stimulating the posterior pharynx with a tongue blade, though this is not always done.
CN XI (Accessory):
Have pt shrug their shoulders against resistance to test the trapezius muscles and turn their head
against your hand on their jaw to test the sternocleidomastoid muscles.
CN XII (Hypoglossal):
Ask pt to stick out their tongue and observe for any deviation to one side, as well as any atrophy
or fasciculations (muscle twitching).
subjective data collection of neuro assessment
COLDSPA
headaches
seizures
