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Clinical examination of cranial nerves

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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