Function of Olfactory
(1) Smell
Function of Optic
(2) Vision
Function of Oculomotor
(3) Eye movement, pupil constriction
Function of Trochlear
Eye movement
Function of Trigeminal
(5) Sensory info from face and head, muscles for chewing
Function of Abducens
(6) Eye movement
Function of Facial
(7) Taste, sensory info for ear, controls muscles for facial expressions
Function of Auditory
(8) Hearing, balance
Function of Glossopharyngeal
(9) Taste, sensory info from tongue, tonsil, pharynx, and muscles for swallowing
Function of Vagus
(10) Sensory, motor, and autonomic functions for digestion and heart rate
Function of Accessory
(11) Controls muscles for head movement (sternocleidomastoid and trapezius)
Function of Hypoglossal
(12) muscles of tongue
Testing Olfactory
Tell patient to close their eyes, compress one nostril, and allow them to smell familiar scents with the other.
Testing optic
Snellen eye chart for distance vision, Jaeger chart for near vision, Ishihara test for testing colour vision, check peripheral vision with fingers, examine with opthalmoscope
Testing Oculomotor
Inspect size/shape of each pupil and test pupillary reaction with a penlight; moving eyes in a “H” pattern w/o moving head
Testing Trochlear
Move eyes in a “H’ pattern
Testing Trigeminal
Clench teeth and feel contraction of temporal and masseter muscles; eyes closed and lightly touch the temples, cheeks and jaw; able to talk
Testing Abducens
Move eyes in “H” pattern
Testing Facial
Raise eyebrows, frown, close eyes tightly, smile, show teeth, puff out cheeks and able to talk
Testing Auditory
Whisper words, rub patient’s hair, use a tuning fork
Testing Glossopharyngeal
Have patient swallow; use a penlight and tongue depressor, use the tongue depressor to hold the tongue down and have the patient say “ahhhhhhhh” check if uvula vibrates, moves up and down or side to side
testing vagus
Talking
Testing Accessory
Check sternocleidomastoid and trapezius with shoulder shrugs and cervical spine rotations
Testing Hypoglossal
Stick out tongue (should be straight); push the tongue against the inside of the cheek and check for strength; able to talk