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Clinical examination of cranial nerves

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Authoring team

If possible, position the patient so that he is sitting over the edge of the bed. Look at the patient's head, face and neck.

General inspection:

  • look for evidence of hydrocephalus (head and face resemble an inverted triangle), Paget's disease, acromegaly
  • look for ptosis, proptosis, pupillary inequality, skew deviation of the eyes, facial asymmetry - these features should be seen when examining individual cranial nerves
  • look at skin for neurofibromas and scalp for craniotomy scars
  • look for cutaneous angiomas on the face (seen in Sturge-Weber syndrome)

After the a general examination, examine the individual cranial nerves (done in order of their number).

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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