This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Clinical examination

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

When examining cranial nerve VII, look for facial asymmetry; note if there is bilateral facial nerve palsy then symmetry can be maintained.

Test muscle power:

  • ask the patient to wrinkle his forehead - push down on the corrugation on each side - note that this movement is preserved on the side of an upper motor neurone lesion; this is because there is bilateral cortical representation of these muscles
  • ask the patient to close his eyes and then try to force open each eye
  • ask the patient to grin
  • ask the patient to blow out his or her cheeks
  • if the examiner detects a lower motor neurone lesion then check ears and palate for vesicles of the geniculate ganglion - Ramsay Hunt syndrome

Create an account to add page annotations

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.