CRANIAL NERVE FUNCTION

1. Olfactory (CN I)

Can identify variety of smells Deviation: Inability to identify aroma

2. Optic (CN II)

Has visual acuity and full visual fields Fundoscopic exam reveals no pathology Deviation: Inability to identify full visual fields - total or partial blindness of one or

both eyes

3, 4, 6. Oculomotor (CN III), trochlear (CN IV), and abducens (CN VI)

Follows up to six cardinal positions of gaze Pupils are unremarkable Exhibits no nystagmus and no ptosis Deviation: one or both eyes will deviate from its normal position

5. Trigeminal (CN V)

Clenches teeth with firm bilateral pressure Has no lateral jaw deviation with mouth open Feels a cotton wisp touched to forehead, cheek and chin Differentiates sharp and dull sensations on face Corneal reflex; blinks when cotton is touched to each cornea Deviation: Absent or one-sided blinking of eyelids

7. Facial (CN VII)

Has facial symmetry with and without a smile Can raise the eyebrows symmetrically and grimace Can shut eyes tightly Can identify sweet, sour, salt or bitter on the anterior tongue Deviation: Irregular and unequal facial movements Deviation: Inability to taste or identify taste Deviation: Inability to taste or identify salt, sweet, sour, or bitter substances on

the anterior two-thirds of the tongue Deviation: Inability to smile symmetrically

8. Acoustic (CN VIII)

Can hear a whisper at 1-2 feet Can hear a watch tick at 1-2 feet

Does not lateralize the Weber test Can hear AC (air conduction) better than BC (bone conduction) in the Rinne test Deviation: Inability to hear spoken word

9, 10. Glossopharyngeal (CN IX) and Vagus (CN X)

Swallows and speaks without hoarseness Palate and uvula rise symmetrically when patient says "ah" Bilateral gag reflex Can identify taste on the posterior tongue Deviation: Unequal or absent rise of uvula and soft palate as the client says, "ah" Deviation: Absent gag reflex Deviation: inability to taste or identify taste on the posterior tongue

11. Spinal accessory (CN XI)

Resists head turning Can shrug against resistance Deviation: Weak or absent shoulder and neck movement

12. Hypoglossal (CN XII)

Can stick tongue out and move it from side to side Can push tongue strongly against resistance Deviation: Tongue deviates to side