Skip to main content

Cranial Nerve Examinations

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Cranial Nerves in Neurology
  • 435 Accesses

Abstract

Examination of cranial nerves can be challenging, but and multiple different examination methods techniques are available. In the following chart, the reader will find a short summary of how to examine cranial nerves. This is divided into standard assessments, which are easily and quickly performed at bedside, and more sophisticated extended testing, which requires special tools. We focus on techniques that are broadly available, generally used in clinical practice, and of special interest to the neurologist. We are aware that more techniques are available, particularly regarding the optic nerve. However, the table is (4.1) intended to provide a quick reference on examination techniques for cranial nerve testing and hopefully will be of help for the distinguished reader.

Authors of this chapter: Naela Alhani and Walter Struhal.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hummel T, Sekinger B, Wolf SR, Pauli E, Kobal G. ‘Sniffin' sticks’: olfactory performance assessed by the combined testing of odor identification, odor discrimination and olfactory threshold. Chem Senses. 1997;22(1):39–52. https://doi.org/10.1093/chemse/22.1.39.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Urban P. Neurophysiologische Diagnostik bei Hirnnervenerkrankungen. J Neurol Neurochir Psychiatr. 2009;10(1):60–73.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Xian LLS, Nallaluthan V, De Jun Y, Lin-Wei O, Halim SA, Chuan CY, Idris Z, Ghani ARI, Abdullah JM. Examination techniques of the first cranial nerve: what neurosurgical residents should know. Malays J Med Sci. 2020;27(5):124–9. https://doi.org/10.21315/mjms2020.27.5.12.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Hufschmidt A, Rauer S, Glocker F, Hrsg. Neurologie compact. 9. vollständig überarbeitete Auflage. Stuttgart: Thieme; 2022.

  5. Zakaria Z, Abdullah MM, Abdul Halim S, Ghani ARI, Idris Z, Abdullah JM. The neurological exam of a comatose patient: an essential practical guide. Malays J Med Sci. 2020;27(5):108–23. https://doi.org/10.21315/mjms2020.27.5.11.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Riordan-Eva P, Augsburger JJ. Vaughan & Asbury’s general ophthalmology. McGraw Hill; 2017. 19e

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kroll P, Küchle HJ, Küchle M, Hrsg. Augenärztliche Untersuchungsmethoden, 3., vollständig überarbeitete und erweiterte Auflage. Stuttgart: Thieme; 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Chen L, Wang L, Hu Y, et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 2019;103:437–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Kanski J reiterate, Bowling B, Klinische Ophthalmoskopie, 7. Auflage. München: Urban & Fischer; 2021.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hanson J, Fikertscher R, Roseburg B. Schirmer test of lacrimation. Its clinical importance. Arch Otolaryngol. 1975;101(5):293–5. https://doi.org/10.1001/archotol.1975.00780340025005.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Berlit P. (Hrsg.) Klinische Neurologie. 4 Auflage. Berlin: Springer; 2020.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Guntinas-Lichius O, Volk GF, Olsen KD, Mäkitie AA, Silver CE, Zafereo ME, Rinaldo A, Randolph GW, Simo R, Shaha AR, Vander Poorten V, Ferlito A. Facial nerve electrodiagnostics for patients with facial palsy: a clinical practice guideline. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2020;277(7):1855–74. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-05949-1.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Kopala W, Kukwa A. Evaluation of the acoustic (stapedius) reflex test in children and adolescents with peripheral facial nerve palsy. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2016;89:102–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2016.08.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Tomita H, Ikeda M. Clinical use of electrogustometry: strengths and limitations. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl. 2002;546:27–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/00016480260046391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Strutz J, Mann W, Hrsg. Praxis der HNO-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie. 3., unveränderte Auflage. Stuttgart: Thieme; 2017.

  16. Urban P, Hrsg. Klinisch-neurologische Untersuchungstechniken. 2., überarbeitete Auflage. Stuttgart: Thieme; 2016.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Naela Alhani .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Alhani, N., Struhal, W. (2023). Cranial Nerve Examinations. In: The Cranial Nerves in Neurology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43081-7_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43081-7_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-43080-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-43081-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics