Physical Assessment: Mental Status & Cranial Nerves

Vocabulary flashcards covering key assessment terms, mental-status checks, and cranial nerve functions from the lecture notes.

Hygiene and Physical Appearance

Initial observable aspects of a patient that can give clues about mental state and comfort level.

Level of Consciousness (LOC)

The degree of alertness or awareness of the patient, ranging from alert to comatose.

Orientation

A patient’s awareness of person, place, and time.

Immediate Recall

The ability to remember information just presented, used to assess short-term memory.

Past Memory

The recall of events or information from the distant past, used to assess long-term memory.

Aphasia

Impairment in understanding or producing spoken or written language.

Cranial Nerve (CN)

One of twelve paired nerves that emerge directly from the brain and control sensory or motor functions.

Olfactory Nerve (CN I)

Sense of smell; tested by identifying familiar odors with each nostril occluded.

Optic Nerve (CN II)

Carries visual information; assessed with visual-acuity tests and pupil responses.

Oculomotor Nerve (CN III)

Controls most eye movements and pupil constriction.

Trochlear Nerve (CN IV)

Controls the superior oblique muscle, allowing downward and inward eye movement.

Trigeminal Nerve (CN V)

Provides facial sensation and controls chewing muscles; tested by jaw clench and light touch.

Abducens Nerve (CN VI)

Controls the lateral rectus muscle, enabling lateral eye movement.

Facial Nerve (CN VII)

Controls facial expressions and taste on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.

Acoustic (Vestibulocochlear) Nerve (CN VIII)

Responsible for hearing and balance; assessed with the whispered-voice test.

Glossopharyngeal Nerve (CN IX)

Involved in gag reflex and taste on the posterior tongue.

Vagus Nerve (CN X)

Controls swallowing, palate elevation, and parasympathetic functions; works with CN IX in gag reflex.

Spinal Accessory Nerve (CN XI)

Innervates the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles; tested by shoulder shrug and head turn against resistance.

Hypoglossal Nerve (CN XII)

Controls tongue movement; assessed by tongue protrusion and strength against cheek.

Six Cardinal Positions of Gaze

Eye-movement test for CN III, IV, and VI that tracks the six major directions of gaze.

Whispered Voice Test

Simple hearing screen in which softly spoken words are repeated by the patient; evaluates CN VIII.

Gag Reflex

Protective contraction of the pharyngeal muscles when the posterior throat is touched; confirms CN IX and X integrity.

Neck Range of Motion (ROM)

The patient’s ability to flex, extend, rotate, and laterally bend the neck smoothly and without pain.