Running head: CRANIAL NERVES1
Cranial Nerve Worksheet
Roberto Amenta
Miami Dade College
CRANIAL NERVES2
CRANIAL NERVES CHART WORKSHEET
Please fill in the name of the cranial nerve, whether the nerve is motor or sensory or both, and
how you would assess the function of the nerve.
Name of Cranial Nerve
I
Olfactory Nerve
Motor or
Sensory or
Both
Sensory
II
Optic Nerve
Sensory
III
Oculomotor Nerve
Motor
IV
Trochlear Nerve
Motor
V
Trigeminal Nerve
Both
VI
Abducens Nerves
Motor
VII
Facial Nerve
Both
VIII
Acoustic Nerve
Sensory
How this nerve is assessed
Close patients eyes and occlude one
nostril and present aromatic substance.
Using ophtalmoloscope to assess the
ocular fundus and determine color, size
and shape of the optic disc. Test visual
acuit and visual fields.
Using a pen light do light reflex testing.
Shine light directed at one eye- the CNIII
nerve should constrict pupils on both
eyes.
Ask patient to follow your finger while
you move it towards his nose.
Motor function: palpate temporal and
masseter muscles as patient clentches the
teeth. Muscles should feel equally
strong.
Sensory function: With patients eyes
closed, assess touch sensation of the
forehead, cheeks and chin.
Ask patient to look towards each of his
ears. After, have patients follow your
finger through the six carnidals fields of
gaze.
Motor function: Note mobility and facial
symmetry as the patients responds to
requests: smile, frown, close eyes tightly,
lift eyebrows, show teeth and puff
cheeks.
Sensory function: Taste buds on the
anterior two thirds of the dorsal region of
the tongue are innervated by the CNVII
Hearing acuity determined by the ability
of patient to hear normal conversation.
CRANIAL NERVES3
IX
Both
Glossopharyngeal
Nerve
Can also be tested by the whispered
voice test.
Motor function: Depress patient's tongue
with a tongue blade and note pharyngeal
movement as patient says "aahh"- uvual
and soft palate should rise in the midline.
Sensory function: Touch posterior
pharyngeal wall with a cotton applicator
stick and note presence of pharyngeal
sensation.
X
Vagus Nerve
Both
XI
Spinal Accessory Nerve
Motor
XII
Hypoglossal Nerve
Motor
Motor function: Depress patient's tongue
with a tongue blade and note pharyngeal
movement as patient says "aahh"- uvual
and soft palate should rise in the midline.
Sensory function: Touch posterior
pharyngeal wall with a cotton applicator
stick and note presence of pharyngeal
sensation.
Examine sternomastoid and trapezius
muscle for equal size. Check equal
strenght by asking patient to rotate the
head forcibly against resistance applied
to chin.
Inspect tongue. No wasting or tremors
should be present. Note the forwards
thrust in the midline as the preson
protrudes the tongue. Ask patient to say
"light, tight, dynamite" and note the
lingual speech.
MEMORY TRIGGERS – ON OLD OLYMPUS TOWERING TOPS A FINN AND GERMAN
VIEWED SOME HOPS.
S=SENSORY M=MOTOR B=BOTH
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII IX
X
XI
SOME SAY MARRY MONEY BUT MY BROTHER SAYS BIG BUSINESS MAKES
MONEY
XII
CRANIAL NERVES4
Reference
Admin. (2021, March 11). Facing cranial nerve assessment. American Nurse. Retrieved September 17,
2022, from https://www.myamericannurse.com/facing-cranial-nerveassessment/#:~:text=To%20assess%20the%20trochlear%20nerve,it%20down%20toward%20his%20nos
e.&text=Cranial%20nerve%20V%20covers%20most,areas%20of%20the%20trigeminal%20nerve.
How to conduct a cranial nerve examination: Postgraduate Dentistry. Online Dental Programs. (2022,
July 11). Retrieved September 17, 2022, from https://ostrowon.usc.edu/cranial-nerveexamination/#:~:text=The%20facial%20motor%20nerve%20supplies,cheeks%20and%20reveal%20their
%20teeth.
Jarvis, C., Eckhardt, A., & Thomas, P. (2020). Physical Examination & Health Assessment.
Elsevier.