A Physician Is Evaluating the Cranial Nerve Function of a Patient

question 171

Multiple Choice

A physician is evaluating the cranial nerve function of a patient. To evaluate vestibulocochlear nerve function, the physician should

• A) stand behind the patient and whisper words to see if the patient can repeat them.
• B) ask the patient to follow the movement of an object with her gaze.
• C) ask the patient to open her mouth and stick out her tongue.
• D) touch the surface of the patient's eyeball to initiate blinking.

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Definitions:

Transparent Disc

A disc-shaped object made from a material that allows light to pass through it without scattering, making the material itself nearly invisible but still physically present.

Iris

The colored part of the eye that controls the size of the pupil and thus the amount of light that enters the eye.

Cornea

The clear front section of the eye, encompassing the iris, pupil, and front chamber, which plays a primary role in concentrating the majority of light entering the eye.

Retina

A thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye that contains cells sensitive to light, which convert light into neural signals for visual recognition.