CRANIAL NERVES - ASSESSMENT
CN III, IV, VI : six cardinal points of gaze; inspect the eyelids for drooping; and observe
the pupils for equality of size, shape, and reaction to light and accommodation.
CRANIEL NERVE MOTOR WHAT DOES HOW DO YOU TEST FOR IT
SENSOR IT DO
BOTH
CN I – OLFACTORY Sensory SMELL Test the patient's ability to identify familiar odors, such as coffee
NERVE and mint extract. Closing one naris at a time w/ the eyes closed
to perform test
CN II – Optic Sensory Visual Distance Vision – Snellen chart & Near Vision Rosenbaum chart
Acuity Pt should have 20/20 vision
Check peripheral vision by confrontation– taking hand and
brining it in to the line of view ( wiggling fingers until the
patient can recognize)
CN III – MOTOR Eye Inspect eyelids – no drooping ( Ptosis)
Oculomotor movement, Checking Pupils – PERRLA
pupil Pupils equally round and reactive to light and accommodation
dilation
CN IV Trochlear MOTOR Vertical eye Move through the six cardinal movements of gaze
movement
CN V – Trigeminal BOTH Facial 1. inspect the face for muscle atrophy, jaw deviation, fasciculations
Largest Cranial Sensation (muscle twitch) or tremors.
Nerve Facial *facial expression tone should be symmetrical
Involved in Expression 2. palpate the clenched jaw muscles for tone and strength.
*clench teeth while palpating jaw
trigeminal
3. test superficial pain and touch sensations in each branch of the
neuralgia & tic
nerve. If the results are unexpected, also test temperature sensation
douloureux
in these areas.
Most cases from *Check sensations on the face (forehead, cheek, chin) Identify
Vascular sharp/dull
compression or *Light sensation: Randomly stroke w/ a cotton wisp say when the
trigeminal nerve stimulus is felt and should feel in all areas
root by an 4. test the corneal reflex. (blink reflex, is an involuntary blinking of
abnormal loop of the eyelids elicited by stimulation of the cornea (such as by touching
the superior or by a foreign body), though could result from any peripheral
cerebral artery stimulus)
*Cornea reflex – look up and away ( touch cornea to demonstrate a
blink response )
* some that wear contact lens may have diminished or absent reflex
CN VI – Abducens Motor Lateral Move through the six cardinal movements of gaze
movement
of eyeballs
CN III, IV, VI : six cardinal points of gaze; inspect the eyelids for drooping; and observe
the pupils for equality of size, shape, and reaction to light and accommodation.
CRANIEL NERVE MOTOR WHAT DOES HOW DO YOU TEST FOR IT
SENSOR IT DO
BOTH
CN I – OLFACTORY Sensory SMELL Test the patient's ability to identify familiar odors, such as coffee
NERVE and mint extract. Closing one naris at a time w/ the eyes closed
to perform test
CN II – Optic Sensory Visual Distance Vision – Snellen chart & Near Vision Rosenbaum chart
Acuity Pt should have 20/20 vision
Check peripheral vision by confrontation– taking hand and
brining it in to the line of view ( wiggling fingers until the
patient can recognize)
CN III – MOTOR Eye Inspect eyelids – no drooping ( Ptosis)
Oculomotor movement, Checking Pupils – PERRLA
pupil Pupils equally round and reactive to light and accommodation
dilation
CN IV Trochlear MOTOR Vertical eye Move through the six cardinal movements of gaze
movement
CN V – Trigeminal BOTH Facial 1. inspect the face for muscle atrophy, jaw deviation, fasciculations
Largest Cranial Sensation (muscle twitch) or tremors.
Nerve Facial *facial expression tone should be symmetrical
Involved in Expression 2. palpate the clenched jaw muscles for tone and strength.
*clench teeth while palpating jaw
trigeminal
3. test superficial pain and touch sensations in each branch of the
neuralgia & tic
nerve. If the results are unexpected, also test temperature sensation
douloureux
in these areas.
Most cases from *Check sensations on the face (forehead, cheek, chin) Identify
Vascular sharp/dull
compression or *Light sensation: Randomly stroke w/ a cotton wisp say when the
trigeminal nerve stimulus is felt and should feel in all areas
root by an 4. test the corneal reflex. (blink reflex, is an involuntary blinking of
abnormal loop of the eyelids elicited by stimulation of the cornea (such as by touching
the superior or by a foreign body), though could result from any peripheral
cerebral artery stimulus)
*Cornea reflex – look up and away ( touch cornea to demonstrate a
blink response )
* some that wear contact lens may have diminished or absent reflex
CN VI – Abducens Motor Lateral Move through the six cardinal movements of gaze
movement
of eyeballs
