Which part of the body would the nurse examine to assess cranial nerve VII
It is good practice to work sequentially through the cranial nerves; be prepared to be instructed to move on quickly to certain sections by any examiner. Show
The ExaminationOlfactory NerveAsk the patient if they have noticed any change in sense of smell:
Optic NerveThe optic nerve should be examined by various modalities: OpenStax College / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0) Figure 1: Example of a Snellon Chart used to assess Visual Acuity
*VA is expressed as the distance between the patient and the chart over the number next to the smallest line that was read (e.g. 6/24 is an individual standing 6m away from the chart and can only read letters that a normal individual can read from 24m) Alternatively, VA can be simply assessed by asking the patient to read text from a book or magazine
Any abnormality detected can be further assessed by perimetry or central field assessment
Oculomotor, Trochlear, and Abducens NervesAssessment of cranial nerves III, IV, and VI:
Ensure to ask the patient to let you know if they experience any double vision throughout Trigeminal NerveBoth sensory and motor branches of the trigeminal nerve should be tested:
Testing of the corneal reflex should not be performed unless sensory impairment suspected, as it is uncomfortable to the patient Facial NerveTesting the facial nerve involves the assessment of the muscles of facial expression:
These movements should also be able to be completed against the examiner’s resistance Vestibulocochlear NerveExamination of cranial nerve VIII should cover both cochlear and vestibular function:
Glossopharyngeal and Vagus NervesCN IX and CN X nerves can be assessed together:
Testing of the gag reflex should not be performed unless bulbar impairment is suspected, as it is uncomfortable to the patient. Accessory NerveThe accessory nerve is a purely motor branch to the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles:
Hypoglossal NerveThe hypoglossal nerve is a purely motor branch to the muscles of the tongue:
Completing the ExaminationRemember, if you have forgotten something important, you can go back and complete this. To finish the examination, stand back from the patient and state to the examiner that to complete your examination, you would like to perform a neurological examination of the limbs Which part of the body with the nurse examine to assess cranial nerve seven?Cranial Nerve VII – Facial Nerve
Ask the patient to smile, show teeth, close both eyes, puff cheeks, frown, and raise eyebrows. Look for symmetry and strength of facial muscles. See Figure 6.18 for an image of assessing motor function of the facial nerve. Test sensory function.
Where is cranial nerve VII located?The facial nerve is the seventh cranial nerve (CN VII). It arises from the brain stem and extends posteriorly to the abducens nerve and anteriorly to the vestibulocochlear nerve.
What does cranial nerve VII test for?It tests sensation in the area of the eye which stimulates a bilateral blink reflex. Sensation to the face is detected by CN V (Trigeminal nerve).
When the nurse is assessing the motor function of cranial nerve VII as part of the neurological examination?When the nurse is assessing the motor function of cranial nerve VII as part of the neurological examination, what should the nurse instruct the client to do? Cover one eye.
|