Quick Tests by Nerve
| Nerve | Function | Quick test |
|---|---|---|
| I — Olfactory | Smell | Identify a scent with eyes closed |
| II — Optic | Vision | Visual acuity, visual fields, pupillary light reflex |
| III, IV, VI | Eye movement | Follow finger in H-pattern; pupil size and symmetry |
| V — Trigeminal | Facial sensation, jaw | Light touch in 3 divisions; clench jaw; corneal reflex |
| VII — Facial | Facial movement | Raise eyebrows, close eyes tightly, smile, puff cheeks |
| VIII — Vestibulocochlear | Hearing, balance | Whisper test; Rinne and Weber tests |
| IX, X | Swallow, gag, voice | Gag reflex, palate movement, say "ah," swallow |
| XI — Accessory | Shoulder, neck | Shrug shoulders, turn head against resistance |
| XII — Hypoglossal | Tongue movement | Protrude tongue, check for deviation |
Mnemonics
To remember the names, in order (I-XII):
"Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel Very Good Velvet, Ah Heaven" — Olfactory, Optic, Oculomotor, Trochlear, Trigeminal, Abducens, Facial, Vestibulocochlear, Glossopharyngeal, Vagus, Accessory, Hypoglossal.
To remember whether each is Sensory, Motor, or Both:
"Some Say Marry Money, But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter More" — S, S, M, M, B, M, B, S, B, B, M, M.
Common Pitfalls
- Forgetting to test pupillary reflexes when assessing CN III, IV, VI together
- Skipping the corneal reflex (tests both CN V sensory and CN VII motor)
- Not checking for tongue deviation toward the weak side in a CN XII lesion
For the full physical exam sequence and opening/closing checklist, see the OSCE Cheat Sheets page.