Nerve
#
Function
Test(s) for
proper
function
Implications
If Abnormal
Mnemonic
Olfactory
I
SENSORY to
nose for
smell
Test each
nostril to see
if you can
smell
something
familiar such
as clove,
peppermint
oil, lemon
peel or coffee
Nasal or
Sinus
Problems
Oh
Using the
visual acuity
chart
(Snellen
chart) in the
front of the
room
standing
behind the
tape line on
the floor,
cover one
eye and read
the chart.
Perform with
corrective
lenses on.
Retinal
Disease
Blink your
eyes
Lesions on
cranial
nerves
Optic
Oculomotor
II
III
SENSORY to
eye for vision
MOTOR to
eye
Some
Trauma
Upper
Respiratory
Infections
Oh
Say
Cataracts
Refer to
ophthalmolog
ist
Oh
Marry
Ptosis
Trochlear
Trigeminal
IV
V
Motor to eye
Sensory to
Look down
Clench jaw,
Vertical
diplopia on
looking
downward
To
Corneal
Touch
Money
Abducens
Facial
VI
VII
face
Motor to
muscles of
jaw
touch the
forehead,
cheek and
jawline gently
drying,
abrasions,
and/or pain,
decreased
salivation
Motor to eye
Look to each
side
Affected eye
is turned
medially or
can be seen
at midline at
rest but the
patient canot
deviate the
eye laterally
And
Smile. Look
for symmetry
in the face
Cortical
lesions,
brainstem
lesion, PNS
lesion will
result in
ipsilateral
facial
muscles and
loss of taste.
Feel a
Sensory: to
ear for
hearing and
balance
Have your
partner close
their eyes.
Snap your
fingers
beside each
ear. Have
your partner
close their
eyes and
stand on one
foot.
Vertigo,
nausea,
acoustic
neuroma,
dizziness,
tinnitus,
brainstem
issues, viral
meningitis.
Virgin
Sensory: to
tongue for
taste
Swallow
Dysphagia,
gag reflex
issues,
paralysis on
one side.
Girls
Sensory: to
tongue
Motor: to
face for
expression
Vestibuloco
chlear
VIII
Glossophary IX
ngeal
Motor: to
pharynx
(throat)
But
My
Brother
Says
Big
Vagus
X
Sensory to
pharynx
Motor to
viscera
(internal
organs-heart,
lungs,
intestines…)
Listen to the
patient speak
and note
clarity and
presence of
any
hoarseness
of voice. Ask
the patient to
say "ah"
while
observing for
symmetrical
movement of
the soft
palate
Subjective
complaints of
difficulty
swallowing
(dysphagia).
Vagina
Bras
Decreased
taste on the
posterior one
third of the
tongue.
Accessory
XI
Motor to
muscles of
neck
Shrug your
shoulders.
Look for
symmetry.
Turn your
head from
side to side.
deficits of
And
downward
and lateral
Matter
rotation of the
scapula and
difficulty in
turning the
head to the
opposite side
of the lesion
Hypoglossal
XII
Motor to
tongue
Stick your
tongue out, It
should come
straight out.
Say
hypoglossal-t
alking is
partially
controlled by
this nerve.
Tongue will
not protrude
out straight
but rather will
deviate to
one side.
Tongue
weakness.
Fasciculation
and/or
atrophy.
Hymen
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