Light entering the eye travels along the optic nerve to the pretectal region of the mid brain to cause pupillary constriction through the visceral motor and short ciliary nerve components of the ocular motor nerve. Examination Technique: observe for ptosis. observe...
Fundoscopy is the assessment of the fundus using an ophthalmoscope Examination Technique: dim the lights. ask the patient to fixate on a distant target. approach the patient from the side. examine the optic nerve and surrounding...
Examination Technique: each eye is tested separately. test best corrected vision using eyeglasses. any patient with uncorrected visual acuity of less than 20/20 should be examined with a pinhole. Improvement of vision through a pinhole indicates that the error is...
Examination Technique: stimulant should be non-irritating. test one nostril at a time with the opposite side occluded. patient should not be able to see the stimulus. cloves ideal stimulant since it preserves it’s scent. alternative stimuli at bedside could include...
Examination Technique: the examiner places themself approximately 1 meter in front of the patient. ask the patient to look to each side, up and down following an “H” pattern. pursuit: ask the patient to follow a target such as your finger or a pen with...
The hypoglossal nerve is motor to the tongue. Examination Technique: observe for tongue atrophy or enlargement. do not overcall tongue fasciculations. It is very difficult to relax the tongue. ask the patient to protrude the tongue. ask the patient to push the tongue...
The 9th and 10th nerves are tested together. They are responsible for swallowing, phonation, guttural and palatal articulation (the 7th nerve has a component for labial articulation). The glossopharyngeal nerve also subserves taste to the posterior one-third of the...
Although taste is not typically assessed during a routine neurological examination, the 7th nerve does supply taste to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and hard and soft palates. This can be tested using salty, bitter, sour or sweet solutions. Examination...
The major role of the facial nerve is to innervate the muscles of facial expression. These can be observed while taking the history and then more formally assessed during the neurological examination. Examination Technique: observe for asymmetry – widening of the...
