Cranial Nerves Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. Which set correctly lists the three divisions of the trigeminal nerve?
Frontal, parietal, and occipital
Temporal, zygomatic, and buccal
Sensory, motor, and parasympathetic
Ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular
2. How many pairs of cranial nerves are conventionally identified in human anatomy?
24 pairs
10 pairs
12 pairs
31 pairs
3. Which cranial nerve carries taste sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?
Trigeminal nerve (CN V)
Facial nerve (CN VII)
Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
Vagus nerve (CN X)
4. A patient loses the ability to detect familiar odors after a head injury. Which cranial nerve is most directly associated with this sensory loss?
Olfactory nerve (CN I)
Optic nerve (CN II)
Facial nerve (CN VII)
Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
5. A patient has vertical double vision that is especially troublesome when looking downward to descend stairs. Weakness of which nerve is a classic consideration?
Oculomotor nerve (CN III)
Abducens nerve (CN VI)
Trochlear nerve (CN IV)
Optic nerve (CN II)
6. Touching the posterior pharyngeal wall normally provides sensory input for the gag reflex mainly through which cranial nerve?
Vagus nerve (CN X)
Facial nerve (CN VII)
Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
7. Which cranial nerve division supplies the principal motor innervation to the muscles of mastication?
Mandibular division of CN V (V3)
Maxillary division of CN V (V2)
Facial nerve (CN VII)
Ophthalmic division of CN V (V1)
8. Which cranial nerve provides major parasympathetic output to organs in the thorax and much of the abdomen?
Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
Vagus nerve (CN X)
Accessory nerve (CN XI)
Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
9. A clinician asks a patient to turn the head against resistance and shrug both shoulders. Which cranial nerve is being tested most directly?
Vagus nerve (CN X)
Trigeminal nerve (CN V)
Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
Accessory nerve (CN XI)
10. During a pupillary light test, which nerve carries the incoming visual signal from the illuminated eye?
Optic nerve (CN II)
Trochlear nerve (CN IV)
Oculomotor nerve (CN III)
Abducens nerve (CN VI)
11. An eye cannot move laterally away from the nose because the lateral rectus muscle is weak. Which nerve is affected?
Abducens nerve (CN VI)
Trochlear nerve (CN IV)
Oculomotor nerve (CN III)
Optic nerve (CN II)
12. When a patient sticks out the tongue, it deviates toward the left because of weakness on that side. Which left cranial nerve is most likely affected?
Trigeminal nerve (CN V)
Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
Vagus nerve (CN X)
Facial nerve (CN VII)
13. A patient reports both hearing loss and difficulty maintaining balance. Which cranial nerve carries the relevant sensory information?
Facial nerve (CN VII)
Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
Vagus nerve (CN X)
14. A person cannot fully smile or close one eye on one side because the muscles of facial expression are weak. Which nerve is most directly involved?
Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
Trigeminal nerve (CN V)
Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
Facial nerve (CN VII)
15. An eye rests in a “down and out” position, and the patient also has ptosis. Which cranial nerve is most likely impaired?
Optic nerve (CN II)
Trochlear nerve (CN IV)
Abducens nerve (CN VI)
Oculomotor nerve (CN III)
16. In the corneal reflex, touching the cornea triggers blinking. Which nerve supplies the motor pathway that closes the eyelids?
Optic nerve (CN II)
Facial nerve (CN VII)
Trigeminal nerve (CN V)
Oculomotor nerve (CN III)