Cranial Nerves - CNV (Trigeminal Nerve)

Cranial Nerves – CNV (Trigeminal Nerve) – Mandibular Branch
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CN V (Trigeminal Nerve)
The trigeminal nerve has three major branches which can be evaluated separately.

Mandibular Branch

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Function

Provides sensory innervation to the rostral 2/3 of the tongue, skin of the intermandibular area, skin on the concave surface of the ear, and skin on the cheek.
Provides motor innervation to the muscles of mastication.

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Assessment

-	Sensory to the intraramal area of the chin. Test with a touch of the hemostat. Hemostats are useful in that they have a fine tip and can get better localization. Efferent response is provided by CN VII.
-	Motor Examine the patient for normal muscle tone and jaw position. With a bilateral lesion the patient will have a dropped jaw that cannot be voluntarily closed. With a unilateral lesion there is a decrease in muscle tone.