CRANIAL NERVE CHART
NOTE: Sensory only - CN I, II, VIII; Motor only – CN III, IV, VI, XI, XII; Sensory and Motor – CN V, VII, IX, X
NOTE: Sensory only (3) CN I, II, VIII; Motor only (5) CN III, IV, VI, XI, XII; Sensory and Motor (4) CN V, VII, IX
Name
Mnemonic
Oh
Function
Mnemonic
Some
Oh
Say
Number/Name
Function
Test
Abnormal Findings
I Olfactory
Sensory: Smell
II Optic
Sensory: Visual
Identify familiar odors (each side separately)
-Visual acuity (Snellen)
-Visual fields (4 fields)
-Fundoscopic
Cannot identify substances or hallucinations of smell
Visual acuity
Visual fields
Optic atrophy or neuritis
-Corneal light reflex
-EOM's (6 fields of gaze)
-PERRLA
-Inspect position lids (Direct/consensual
pupillary response)
Eyes not parallel
Eyes don't track together
Unable to look up, down or in
Pupils don't react equally to light/accommodation
Ptosis
-Corneal light reflex
-EOM's
Eyes don't track together
Unable to look down and in
Eyes not parallel
-Palpate masseter muscle
-Brush corneas with cotton
-Brush skin with cotton
-Pinprick to skin
Masseter muscle weak or asymmetrical in strength
No consensual blink when corner touched
Unable to feel light touch or sensation to pinprick
-Corneal light reflex
-EOM's
Eyes don't track together
Unable to look laterally
Eyes not parallel
-Frown, blink, smile, raise eyebrows, wrinkle
forehead, whistle
-Identify familiar tastes, closes eyes tightly
Asymmetry of face
Loss of taste - anterior 2/3 tongue
Unable to keep eyelids closed against resistance
-Watch tick
-Whisper, Weber, Rhinne (AC BC)
-Caloric test (ice water into ear)
Hearing loss; bone or air conduction
Tinnitus
Absence of nystagmus; vertigo
-Gag reflex
-Movement of uvula and soft palate (say
"AH")
Absence of gag reflex
Asymmetrical movement of soft palate on saying AH
Motor: gross eye movements, up, down &
in
Oh
Marry
III Oculomotor
To
Money
IV Trochlear
Parasympathetic: constricts pupil sphincter
and ciliary muscle of accommodation
(raises lids)
Motor: gross eye movements; rotates eye
down and in (superior oblique muscle)
Motor: Mastication muscles
Touch
But
V Trigeminal
Sensory: Cornea, skin of face, head and
tongue
Parasympathetic: Submaxillary gland
And
My
VI Abducens
Motor: gross eye movements; rotates eye
outward (lateral rectus muscle)
Motor: facial muscles, eyelids
Feel
Brother
Sensory: taste to anterior 2/3 tongue
VII Facial
Parasympathetic: lacrimal, nasal,
submaxillary glands
Cochlear branch: sensory for hearing
A
Says
VIII Acoustic
Vestibular branch: sensory for equilibrium
Motor: pharynx (swallow)
Girl’s
Big
IX Glossopharyngeal
Vagina
Boobs
X Vagus
And
Matter
XI Spinal Accessory
Hymen
More
XII Hypoglossal
Sensory: taste to posterior 1/3 of tongue,
sensation of pharynx and carotid sinus;
posterior ear canal
Motor: pharynx, larynx, palate
Sensory: pharynx, larynx
-Same
Parasympathetic: heart, viscera
Motor: Sternocleidomastoid and trapezius
muscle
Dysphagia
Dysarthria
Hoarseness
Plus above (IX)
-Shrug shoulders
-Turn head against resistance
Weakness or asymmetrical weakness
Atrophy
Motor: tongue
-Stick out tongue and press against tongue
depressor to right and left
Tremor
Lateral deviation weakness