Cranial Nerves and Primary Functions

Olfactory Nerve I

Sensory; sense of smell.

make athlete smell something.

Optic Nerve II

Sensory; vision.

make athlete read from faraway.

Oculomotor Nerve III

Motor; eye movements, pupil dilation.

use penlight to look for dilation.

Trochlear Nerve IV

Motor; eye movements (downwards gaze).

use penlight in H motion.

Trigeminal Nerve V

Sensory and Motor; facial muscles.

use tongue depressor or bite down.

Abducens Nerve VI

Motor; eye movements (same as III & IV)

Facial VII

Sensory + Motor; taste, facial muscles.

make athlete smile/frown, raise eyebrows, close eyes tightly.

Vestibulocochlear VIII

Sensory; hearing, equilibrium/balance.

do Rhombus test on athlete.

Glossopharyngeal IX

Sensory and Motor; pharyngeal muscles.

make athlete swallow spit, look for throat movements.

Vagus X

Sensory and Motor; taste, digestion, verbal, gag reflex.

make athlete say “ah.”

Accessory XI

Motor; head and shoulder movement.

make athlete resist or shrug, rotate head left or right.

Hypoglossal Nerve XII

Motor; movements of tongue.

make athlete stick out tongue.