MCQ Quiz

1. All of the following statements regarding cranial nerves are correct EXCEPT:

They may be sensory, motor, or mixed

Motor components originate from brainstem nuclei

Sensory components originate from sensory ganglia

All cranial nerves synapse in the thalamus

Explanation:
Not all cranial nerves relay via the thalamus (e.g. olfactory nerve).

2. All of the following regarding the olfactory nerve are correct EXCEPT:

It is purely sensory

Its fibers pass through the cribriform plate

It consists of multiple sensory rootlets

Its cell bodies lie in the olfactory bulb

Explanation:
Cell bodies are located in the nasal mucosa.

3. The olfactory nerve pathway includes all EXCEPT:

Olfactory bulb

Olfactory tract

Lateral geniculate nucleus

Primary olfactory cortex

Explanation:
LGN is part of the visual pathway.

4. Testing of the olfactory nerve is best performed by:

Confrontation test

Asking the patient to identify odors

Fundoscopic examination

Corneal stimulation

Explanation:
Olfaction is tested using familiar smells.

5. All of the following are components of the optic nerve pathway EXCEPT:

Optic canal

Optic chiasm

Inferior colliculus

Optic tract

Explanation:
The inferior colliculus is auditory.

6. All of the following optic nerve tests are correct EXCEPT:

Visual acuity assesses macular function

Visual fields assess peripheral vision

Fundoscopy visualizes the optic disc

Jaw jerk reflex assesses optic nerve integrity

Explanation:
Jaw jerk is trigeminal.

7. Partial crossing of optic nerve fibers occurs at the:

Optic canal

Optic chiasm

Lateral geniculate body

Visual cortex

Explanation:
Nasal retinal fibers decussate at the optic chiasm.

8. Damage to the optic tract most likely causes:

Ipsilateral blindness

Bitemporal hemianopia

Central scotoma

Contralateral homonymous hemianopia

Explanation:
Optic tract lesions cause contralateral homonymous hemianopia.

9. All of the following nuclei are related to CN III EXCEPT:

Oculomotor nucleus

Edinger–Westphal nucleus

Salivatory nucleus

Midbrain nuclei

Explanation:
Salivatory nuclei are for CN VII and IX.

10. The superior division of the oculomotor nerve supplies all EXCEPT:

Medial rectus

Superior rectus

Levator palpebrae superioris

None of the above

Explanation:
Medial rectus is supplied by the inferior division.

11. Parasympathetic fibers of CN III ultimately innervate all EXCEPT:

Ciliary muscle

Sphincter pupillae

Ciliary ganglion

Dilator pupillae

Explanation:
Dilator pupillae is sympathetically innervated.

12. Ptosis in oculomotor nerve palsy is due to paralysis of:

Superior rectus

Levator palpebrae superioris

Inferior oblique

Orbicularis oculi

Explanation:
Levator palpebrae superioris elevates the eyelid.

13. Failure of accommodation indicates dysfunction of which structure?

Superior cervical ganglion

Lateral geniculate nucleus

Ciliary muscle

Dilator pupillae

Explanation:
Accommodation depends on ciliary muscle contraction.

14. All of the following regarding the trochlear nerve are correct EXCEPT:

It exits dorsally from the brainstem

It innervates superior oblique

It supplies the ipsilateral muscle

Its fibers decussate

Explanation:
Each nucleus supplies the contralateral muscle.

15. A patient cannot look down while the eye is adducted. The injured nerve is:

Trochlear nerve

Oculomotor nerve

Abducens nerve

Optic nerve

Explanation:
Superior oblique is supplied by CN IV.

16. All of the following are true about trigeminal nerve sensory root EXCEPT:

Arises from trigeminal ganglion

Enters the pons

Descends to C2 level

Supplies muscles of mastication

Explanation:
Motor supply comes from the motor root.

17. Meckle’s cave is best described as:

A foramen in sphenoid bone

A dural depression housing trigeminal ganglion

A venous sinus

A midbrain nucleus

Explanation:
It houses the trigeminal (semilunar) ganglion.

18. Which trigeminal division is purely sensory?

V3

V1 and V3

V1 and V2

All divisions

Explanation:
V3 is mixed.

19. The ophthalmic division exits the skull via the:

Superior orbital fissure

Foramen rotundum

Foramen ovale

Optic canal

Explanation:
V1 exits through the superior orbital fissure.

20. Loss of corneal sensation indicates injury to:

Maxillary nerve

Ophthalmic nerve

Mandibular nerve

Facial nerve

Explanation:
Cornea is supplied by V1.

21. All of the following are sensory areas of V2 EXCEPT:

Upper lip

Cheek

Palate

Lower lip

Explanation:
Lower lip is supplied by V3.

22. All of the following muscles are supplied by V3 EXCEPT:

Masseter

Temporalis

Orbicularis oris

Medial pterygoid

Explanation:
Orbicularis oris is supplied by CN VII.

23. The jaw jerk reflex is exaggerated in:

Upper motor neuron lesions

Lower motor neuron lesions

Peripheral neuropathy

Cerebellar disease

Explanation:
UMN lesions increase reflexes.

24. All of the following are tested when assessing trigeminal motor function EXCEPT:

Clenching teeth

Jaw opening against resistance

Palpation of masseter

Pupillary light reflex

Explanation:
Pupillary reflex is CN II & III.

25. General sensation of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue is carried by:

Lingual nerve (VII)

Lingual nerve (V3)

Glossopharyngeal nerve

Hypoglossal nerve

Explanation:
General sensation is via V3.

26. Tensor tympani muscle is supplied by:

Facial nerve

Glossopharyngeal nerve

Mandibular nerve

Vagus nerve

Explanation:
Tensor tympani is supplied by V3.

27. The efferent limb of the corneal reflex is carried by:

Ophthalmic nerve

Facial nerve

Oculomotor nerve

Abducens nerve

Explanation:
Facial nerve supplies orbicularis oculi.

28. All of the following foramina transmit trigeminal branches EXCEPT:

Superior orbital fissure

Foramen rotundum

Foramen ovale

Jugular foramen

Explanation:
Jugular foramen transmits CN IX, X, XI.

29. Deviation of the jaw to one side on opening indicates weakness of:

Ipsilateral pterygoid muscles

Contralateral masseter

Temporalis muscle

Buccinator muscle

Explanation:
Jaw deviates toward the side of the lesion.

30. All of the following statements about V3 are correct EXCEPT:

It is a mixed nerve

It exits via foramen ovale

It supplies the cornea

It supplies muscles of mastication

Explanation:
Cornea is supplied by V1.

31. Trigeminal sensory nuclei extend inferiorly to:

C1

C2

T1

Medulla only

Explanation:
The spinal tract descends to C2.

32. All of the following muscles elevate the mandible EXCEPT:

Masseter

Temporalis

Medial pterygoid

Lateral pterygoid

Explanation:
Lateral pterygoid protrudes/depresses mandible.

33. Loss of blink reflex with preserved corneal sensation suggests lesion of:

Facial nerve

Ophthalmic nerve

Optic nerve

Oculomotor nerve

Explanation:
Efferent limb is facial nerve.

34. Which nerve supplies tensor veli palatini?

Facial nerve

Glossopharyngeal nerve

Mandibular nerve

Vagus nerve

Explanation:
Tensor veli palatini is supplied by V3.

35. A lesion in Meckle’s cave most directly affects:

Facial nerve nucleus

Trigeminal ganglion

Optic chiasm

Ciliary ganglion

Explanation:
Meckle’s cave houses trigeminal ganglion.

36. All of the following are branches of the trigeminal nerve EXCEPT:

Ophthalmic

Maxillary

Mandibular

Buccal (facial nerve)

Explanation:
Buccal branch of facial nerve is different.

37. Paralysis of muscles of mastication results in jaw deviation toward:

Side of lesion

Opposite side

No deviation

Upward direction

Explanation:
Unopposed contralateral pterygoid pulls jaw.

38. Sensory loss over nasal tip indicates injury to:

V2

V3

V1

VII

Explanation:
Nasal tip is supplied by ophthalmic nerve.

39. The spinal tract of trigeminal nerve primarily conveys:

Proprioception

Pain and temperature

Motor fibers

Parasympathetic fibers

Explanation:
Pain and temperature descend in the spinal tract.

CNS: Anatomy# Cranial Nerves

1. All of the following statements regarding cranial nerves are correct EXCEPT:

2. All of the following regarding the olfactory nerve are correct EXCEPT:

3. The olfactory nerve pathway includes all EXCEPT:

4. Testing of the olfactory nerve is best performed by:

5. All of the following are components of the optic nerve pathway EXCEPT:

6. All of the following optic nerve tests are correct EXCEPT:

7. Partial crossing of optic nerve fibers occurs at the:

8. Damage to the optic tract most likely causes:

9. All of the following nuclei are related to CN III EXCEPT:

10. The superior division of the oculomotor nerve supplies all EXCEPT:

11. Parasympathetic fibers of CN III ultimately innervate all EXCEPT:

12. Ptosis in oculomotor nerve palsy is due to paralysis of:

13. Failure of accommodation indicates dysfunction of which structure?

14. All of the following regarding the trochlear nerve are correct EXCEPT:

15. A patient cannot look down while the eye is adducted. The injured nerve is:

16. All of the following are true about trigeminal nerve sensory root EXCEPT:

17. Meckle’s cave is best described as:

18. Which trigeminal division is purely sensory?

19. The ophthalmic division exits the skull via the:

20. Loss of corneal sensation indicates injury to:

21. All of the following are sensory areas of V2 EXCEPT:

22. All of the following muscles are supplied by V3 EXCEPT:

23. The jaw jerk reflex is exaggerated in:

24. All of the following are tested when assessing trigeminal motor function EXCEPT:

25. General sensation of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue is carried by:

26. Tensor tympani muscle is supplied by:

27. The efferent limb of the corneal reflex is carried by:

28. All of the following foramina transmit trigeminal branches EXCEPT:

29. Deviation of the jaw to one side on opening indicates weakness of:

30. All of the following statements about V3 are correct EXCEPT:

31. Trigeminal sensory nuclei extend inferiorly to:

32. All of the following muscles elevate the mandible EXCEPT:

33. Loss of blink reflex with preserved corneal sensation suggests lesion of:

34. Which nerve supplies tensor veli palatini?

35. A lesion in Meckle’s cave most directly affects:

36. All of the following are branches of the trigeminal nerve EXCEPT:

37. Paralysis of muscles of mastication results in jaw deviation toward:

38. Sensory loss over nasal tip indicates injury to:

39. The spinal tract of trigeminal nerve primarily conveys: