ABSTRACT
I: enquires about a change in sense of smell (offers formal olfactory examination if there hasbeen a change)
II: offers examination of cranial nerve II III, IV, VI: assesses eye movements (enquires about diplopia and observes for
nystagmus) V (sensation): assesses for light touch in the three trigeminal nerve areas, offers to
assess pinprick sensation, and states intention to assess for a corneal reflex V (motor): assesses muscles of mastication (masseter and pterygoids) and offers to test
for the jaw jerk reflex VII (sensation): states intention to assess the anterior two-thirds of the tongue for
sensation VII (motor): tests for power in the upper and lower facial muscles VIII: assesses hearing of whispered sounds, and offers tuning fork tests and otoscopy IX: assesses palatal movements and offers to test for the gag reflex X: comments on phonation and offers to test for the gag reflex XI: assesses the power of sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles XII: examines the tongue for wasting, fasciculation and power
Cleans hands by washing or using alcohol gel
Fluency of examination Competence in presenting findings, summarizing and forming differential diagnoses
KEY In a 7-minute cranial nerve examination station, you would not be able to perform a full examination of cranial nerves II and VIII. You may be asked to examine these in separate eye and hearing stations, and these have been included later in the chapter. You may not even be required to examine all ten of the other cranial nerves and the instructions will specify, for example you may be asked just to examine the lower cranial nerves (cranial nerves V to XII).
