

Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Prepare for your exams
Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points to download
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Cranial Nerve Testing Solved 100% Correct!! Cranial Nerve Testing Answer - Refers to twelve pairs of nerves that have their origin in the brain. The majority of cranial cranial nerves contain both sensory and motor fibers.Since lesions affecting the cranial nerves produce specific and predictable alterations, it is often prudent to perform cranial testing as part of a neurological examination.
Typology: Exams
1 / 3
This page cannot be seen from the preview
Don't miss anything!


Cranial Nerve Testing Answer - Refers to twelve pairs of nerves that have their origin in the brain. The majority of cranial cranial nerves contain both sensory and motor fibers.Since lesions affecting the cranial nerves produce specific and predictable alterations, it is often prudent to perform cranial testing as part of a neurological examination. Cranial Nerve I - Olfactory Answer - The patient is positioned in sitting with the eyes closed or blindfolded. The therapist places an item with a familar odor under the patient's nostril and the patient is asked to identify the odor. A positive test may be indicated by an inability to identify familiar odors. Cranial Nerve II - Optic Answer - The patient is positioned in standing a selected distance from a chart or diagram. The therapist asks the patient to identify objects or read selected items from the chart or diagram. A positive test may be indicated by an inability to identify objects as a reasonable distance. Cranial Nerve III - Oculomotor Answer - The patient is positioned in sitting and is asked to follow an object such as a writing utensil with their eyes as it is moved vertically, horizontally, and diagonally. The therapist should make sure the patient does not rotate their head during the testing and should inspect the patient's eyes for asymmetry of ptosis. A positive test is indicated by an identified tracking deficit, asymmetry, or ptosis. Cranial Nerve IV - Trochlear Answer - The patient is positioned in sitting and asked to follow an object such as a writing utensil with their eyes as it is moved in an inferior direction. The therapist should make sure the patient does not move his head downward. A positive test results by an inability to depress and/r complaints of diplopia. Cranial Nerve V - Trigeminal Answer - The patient is positioned in sitting and is asked to close their eyes. The therapist uses a piece of cotton and a safety pin to alternately touch the patient's face. The patient is asked to classify each contact with the face as sharp or dull. A positive test for the sensory component bay be identified by impaired or absent sensation or the inability to differentiate between sharp or dull. The motor component is tested by asking the patient to perform madibular protrusion, retrusion, and lateral deviation. A positive test may be indicated by an impaired ability to move the mandible through the specific motions. Cranial Nerve VI - Abducens Answer - The patient is positined in sitting. The therapist asks the patient to abduct their eyes without rotating the head. A positive test may be indicated by an inability to abduct the eyes. Cranial Nerve VII - Facial Answer - The patient is positioned in sitting and is asked to distinguish between sweet and salty substances placed on te anterior portion of
the tongue. A positive test for the sensory component may be identified by an inability to accurately identify sweet and salty substances. The motor componet is tested by performing a manual muscle test of selected muscles involved in facial expression. A positive test for the motor component may be indicated by an inability to mimic selected facial expressions due to muscle impairment. Cranial Nerve VIII - Vestibulocochlear Answer - The patient is positioned in sitting in a quiet location. The therapist, positioned behid the patient and to one side, slowly brings a ticking watch toward the patient's ear. The therapist records the distance from the ear when the patient is able to identify the ticking sound. The therapist repeats the procedure on the contralateral ear and compares themeasurements. A positive test is indicated by an inability to hear the ticking sound at 18-24 inches or a significant bilateral difference. Alternate tests include the Weber and Rinne tests which require a 512 Hz tuning fork. Cranial Nerve IX - Glossopharyngeal Answer - The patient is positioned in sitting. The therapist touches the pharynx with a tongue depressor. A positive test may be indicated by lack of gagging or an inability to feel the tongue depressor touch the back of the throat. The sensory component is tested by assessing the patient's ability to distinguish objects by taste after they are placed on the posterior portion of the tongue. A positive test for the sensory component may be identified by an inability to accurately identify tasted substances, especially sour and bitter substances, placed on the posterior third of the tongue. Cranial Nerve X - Vagus Answer - The patient is positioned in siting. The therapist touches the pharynx with a tongue depressor. A positive test may be indicated by a lack of gagging or an inability to feel the tongue depressor touch the back of the throat. If the gag reflex is absent the therapist should carefully assess the movement of the soft palate and uvula. Cranial Nerve XI - Accessory Answer - The patient is positioned in sitting with the arms at the side. The therapist asks the patient to shrug their shoulders and maintain the position while the therapist applies resistance through the shoulders in the direction of shoulder depression. A positive test may be indicated by an inability to maintain the position against resistance. Cranial Nerve XII - Hypoglossal Answer - The patient is positioned in sitting. The therapist asks the patient to protrude the tongue. A positive test may be indicated by an inability to fully protrude the tongue or the tongue deviating to one side during protrusion. Cranial Nerve Testing Answer - Page 70 - 71