Both
muscles also receive input from cervical spinal nerves. Along with the spinal
accessory nerve, these nerves contribute to elevating the scapula and clavicle
through the trapezius, which is tested by asking the patient to shrug both
shoulders, and watching for asymmetry. For the sternocleidomastoid, those
spinal nerves are primarily sensory projections, whereas the trapezius also has
lateral insertions to the clavicle and scapula, and receives motor input from the
spinal cord. Calling the nerve the spinal accessory nerve suggests that it is
aiding the spinal nerves. Though that is not precisely how the name originated,
it does help make the association between the function of this nerve in
controlling these muscles and the role these muscles play in movements of the
trunk or shoulders. This figure shows the side view of a person’s neck with the
different muscles labeled. The accessory nerve innervates the
sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles, both of which attach to the head and
to the trunk and shoulders. They can act as antagonists in head flexion and
extension, and as synergists in lateral flexion toward the shoulder.
To test
these muscles, the patient is asked to Focused In flex and extend the neck or shrug the
shoulders against resistance, testing the strength of the muscles. Lateral
flexion of the neck toward the shoulder tests both at the same time. Any
difference on one side versus the other would suggest damage on the weaker
side. These strength tests are common for the skeletal muscles controlled by
spinal nerves and are a significant component of the motor exam. Deficits
associated with the accessory nerve may have an effect on orienting the head,
as described with the VOR. The Pupillary Light Response The autonomic control
of pupillary size in response to a bright light involves the sensory input of
the optic nerve and the parasympathetic motor output of the oculomotor nerve.
When light hits the retina, specialized photosensitive ganglion cells send a
signal along the optic nerve to the pretectal nucleus in the superior midbrain.
A neuron from this nucleus projects to the Eddinger–Westphal nuclei in the
oculomotor complex in both sides of the midbrain. Neurons in this nucleus give
rise to the preganglionic parasympathetic fibers that project through the
oculomotor nerve to the ciliary ganglion in the posterior orbit. The
postganglionic parasympathetic fibers from the ganglion project to the iris,
where they release acetylcholine onto circular fibers that constrict the pupil
to reduce the amount of light hitting the retina.
The sympathetic nervous
system is responsible for dilating the pupil when light levels are low. Shining
light in one eye will elicit constriction of both pupils. The efferent limb of
the pupillary light reflex is bilateral. Light shined in one eye causes a
constriction of that pupil, as well as constriction of the contralateral pupil.
Shining a penlight in the eye of a patient is a very artificial situation, as
both eyes are normally exposed to the same light sources. Testing this reflex
can illustrate whether the optic nerve or the oculomotor nerve is damaged. If
shining the light in one eye results in no changes in pupillary size but
shining light in the opposite eye elicits a normal, bilateral response, the
damage is associated with the optic nerve on the nonresponsive side. If light
in either eye elicits a response in only one eye, the problem is with the
oculomotor system. If light in the right eye only causes the left pupil to
constrict, the direct reflex is lost and the consensual reflex is intact, which
means that the right oculomotor nerve (or Eddinger–Westphal nucleus) is
damaged. Damage to the right oculomotor connections will be evident when light
is shined in the left eye. In that case, the direct reflex is intact but the
consensual reflex is lost, meaning that the left pupil will constrict while the
right does not. The cranial nerves can be separated into four major groups
associated with the subtests of the cranial nerve exam. First are the sensory
nerves, then the nerves that control eye movement, the nerves of the oral
cavity and superior pharynx, and the nerve that controls movements of the neck.
The olfactory, optic, and vestibulocochlear nerves are strictly sensory nerves
for smell, sight, and balance and hearing, whereas the trigeminal, facial, and
glossopharyngeal nerves carry somatosensation of the face, and taste—separated
between the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and the posterior one-third.
Special senses are tested by presenting the particular stimuli to each
receptive organ. General senses can be tested through sensory discrimination of
touch versus painful stimuli. The oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerves
control the extraocular muscles and are connected by the medial longitudinal
fasciculus to coordinate gaze. Testing conjugate gaze is as simple as having
the patient follow a visual target, like a pen tip, through the visual field
ending with an approach toward the face to test convergence and accommodation.
Along with the vestibular functions of the eighth nerve, the vestibulo-ocular
reflex stabilizes gaze during head movements by coordinating equilibrium
sensations with the eye movement systems. The trigeminal nerve controls the
muscles of chewing, which are tested for stretch reflexes. Motor functions of
the facial nerve are usually obvious if facial expressions are compromised, but
can be tested by having the patient raise their eyebrows, smile, and frown.
Movements of the tongue, soft palate, or superior pharynx can be observed
directly while the patient swallows, while the gag reflex is elicited, or while
the patient says repetitive consonant sounds.
The motor control of the gag
reflex is largely controlled by fibers in the vagus nerve and constitutes a
test of that nerve because the parasympathetic functions of that nerve are
involved in visceral regulation, such as regulating the heartbeat and
digestion. Movement of the head and neck using the sternocleidomastoid and
trapezius muscles is controlled by the accessory nerve. Flexing of the neck and
strength testing of those muscles reviews the function of that nerve. also
available. The patient is asked to indicate whether one or two stimuli are
present while keeping their eyes closed. The examiner will switch between using
the two points and a single point as the stimulus. Failure to recognize two
points may be an indication of a dorsal column pathway deficit. Similar to
two-point discrimination, but assessing laterality of perception, is double
simultaneous stimulation. Two stimuli, such as the cotton tips of two
applicators, are touched to the same position on both sides of the body. If one
side is not perceived, this may indicate damage to the contralateral posterior
parietal lobe. Because there is one of each pathway on either side of the
spinal cord, they are not likely to interact. If none of the other subtests
suggest particular deficits with the pathways, the deficit is likely to be in
the cortex where conscious perception is based.
The mental status exam contains
subtests that assess other functions that are primarily localized to the
parietal cortex, such as stereognosis and graphesthesia. A final subtest of
sensory perception that concentrates on the sense of proprioception is known as
the Romberg test. The patient is asked to stand straight with feet together.
Once the patient has achieved their balance in that position, they are asked to
close their eyes. Without visual feedback that the body is in a vertical
orientation relative to the surrounding environment, the patient must rely on
the proprioceptive stimuli of joint and muscle position, as well as information
from the inner ear, to maintain balance. This test can indicate deficits in
dorsal column pathway proprioception, as well as problems with proprioceptive
projections to the cerebellum through the spinocerebellar tract. representing a
Watch this video to see a quick demonstration of two-point discrimination.
Touching a specialized caliper to the surface of the skin will measure the
distance between two points that are perceived as distinct stimuli versus a
single stimulus.