Cranial Nerves: Exam Demonstration

Other Cranial Nerves (CN 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12):

Sensory testing of the face using pinprick and light touch will test the sensory components of all three branches of CN5 (trigeminal) and the trigeminothalamic tract.

Asking a patient to make voluntary facial movements tests the integrity of CN7 (facial) and the corticobulbar tract originating in the cortex.  The upper face (forehead and muscles to close the eyes) receives bilateral innervation from motor cortex, while the lower face receives only contralateral innervation from motor cortex. 

CN8 can be tested by checking for the patient's ability to hear a soft sound.

With the mouth open, trying to push the jaw up tests the motor component of CN5.

CN11 (spinal accessory nerve) is tested by asking the patient to move the head against your hand (sternocleidomastoid - SCM strength) and by asking the patient to shrug the shoulders (trapezius strength).

When the patient says "ah", the position of the uvula can be noted to check for CN9 and CN10 innervation.

Testing tongue strength and movement investigates the integrity of CN 12 (hypoglossal).

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