Question

ANP is examining a patient and asks the patient to say "aaah" and illicts the gag reflex The NP is evaluating which cranio nervo/?

A. CN XII
B. CN III. IV, VI Q
C. CN IX x
D. CNV

Answer 1

The cranial nerve evaluated when the gag reflex is elicited is primarily the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), in conjunction with the vagus nerve (CN X).

Step-by-step explanation:

When the gag reflex is elicited by asking a patient to say "aaah", the cranial nerve being evaluated is the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) along with the vagus nerve (CN X). The glossopharyngeal nerve relays general sensations from the pharyngeal walls, which can stimulate the gag reflex when the lateral wall of the fauces is contacted. The motor response of the gag reflex is largely controlled by fibers in the vagus nerve, which stimulates the contraction of skeletal muscles in the pharynx and larynx. While the gag reflex does not directly test CN XII (hypoglossal nerve), CN III (oculomotor nerve), CN IV (trochlear nerve), nor CN VI (abducens nerve), it does evaluate the function of both the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves