Difference between revisions of "Category:Cranial Nerve Examination - Horse"

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* The cranial nerves are numbered 1-12 from the most rostral to the most caudal.  
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* A systematic examination of the cranial nerves can aid accurate identification of the site of a lesion.
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|pagebody = The cranial nerves are numbered 1-12 from the most rostral to the most caudal. A systematic examination of the cranial nerves can aid accurate identification of the site of a lesion.
  
===Cranial Nerve I===
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'''Cranial Nerve I''' is the olfactory nerve. Abnormalities are rarely detected in this nerve.
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<categorytree mode=pages>Cranial Nerve Examination - Horse</categorytree>
  
* Cranial nerve I is the olfactory nerve.
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** Abnormalities are rarely detected in this nerve.
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===[[Neurological Eye Examination - Horse]]===
 
 
 
 
===[[Face Sensation]]===
 
 
* Nerve fibres giving sensation to the face are carried in cranial nerve V - the trigeminal nerve.
 
** The trigeminal nerve provides sensory innervation to:
 
*** The skin of the face
 
*** The ears
 
*** The nasal mucosa
 
*** The cornea
 
** There are three divisions of the trigeminal nerve
 
*** The mandibular branch
 
*** The maxillary branch
 
*** The opthalmic branch
 
* Facial sensation is tested by observation for an avoidance response or reflex movement following stimulation.
 
** All the divisions of the trigeminal nerve should be tested. This is achieved by:
 
*** Stimulation within the nostrils
 
*** Stimulation within the ears
 
*** Stimulation between the mandibles
 
*** Testing the corneal reflex.
 
***# Pressure is exerted on the corneal surface through the eyelid.
 
***# The opthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve provides sensory (afferent) input.
 
***# Efferent signals are sent via the abducens nerve (CN VI)
 
***# The retractor oculi muscle retracts the eye
 
 
====Masticatory muscles====
 
 
* The mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve carries motor fibres.
 
** It is the only division of the trigeminal nerve that does so.
 
* The muscles of mastication are innervated by these fibres.
 
** The masseter and temporalis muscles are particulaly influenced by the mandibular brach of the trigeminal nerve.
 
*** These muscles of mastication are also the easiest to assess.
 
*** These muscles should be closely examined for signs of atrophy.
 
**** '''Atrophy of the temporalis and masseter muscle indicates damage to the mandibular branch of CN V.'''
 
 
====Facial Expression====
 
 
* The muscles of facial expression are innervated by branches of cranial nerve VII - the facial nerve.
 
* The facial nerve also carries the parasympathetic supply to the lacrimal glands.
 
** Horses with facial nerve dysfunction are therefore prone to corneal ulceration, due to :
 
*** An inability to blink
 
*** Poor or absent tear production
 
 
=====Facial Nerve Dysfunction=====
 
 
* Facial nerve dysfunction is common in the horse.
 
* It is readily identified by one or more of the following:
 
** A lip droop
 
** Muzzle deviation
 
*** Deviation is towards the normal side.
 
** An ear droop
 
* Early or mild dysfunction may be reflected by:
 
** Slight changes to nostril size
 
** Nostril flare
 
** Reduced ear movements in response to audible stimuli
 
* The branch of CN VII supplying the muzzle and nostrils crosses the vertical mandibular ramus and the surface of the masseter muscle.
 
** A lesion to that side of the face, for example a kick, may cause signs confined to the nose.
 
** Alternatively, a more central lesion will give both ear and nostril signs.
 
 
=====The Palpebral Reflex=====
 
 
* The palpebral reflex examines the function of both CN V (afferent) and CN VII (efferent).
 
* The reflex is elicited by lightly touching the eyelids and watching for reflex closure.
 
 
 
[[Category:Cranial Nerve Examination - Horse]]
 
 
===[[Vestibular System Examination]]===
 
 
====The Vestibulocochlear Nerve====
 
 
* Cranial nerve VIII is the vestibulocochlear nerve.
 
* The vestibulocochlear nerve carries
 
** Auditory, or cochlear, signals.
 
** Balance, or vestibular, signals.
 
* Signals from CN VIII are relayed to the vestibular nuclei in the brainstem.
 
** The nuclei in turn relay information to
 
*** The eyes
 
*** The body and limbs
 
*** Higher centres.
 
* Many efferent signals are controlled in part by cerebellar input.
 
 
====Unilateral Vestibular Disease====
 
 
* Horses with unilateral vestibular lesions often have a head tilt towards the side of the lesion.
 
* If nystagmus is absent, determining whether a horse with a head tilt is also weak is helpful in deciding whether vestibular disease is central or peripheral.
 
** In peripheral diease, the horse may be ataxic but weakness is not normally seen.
 
 
=====Acute=====
 
 
* In the acute stages of vestibular disease, spontaneous nystagmus may be present.
 
** The appearance of nystagmus is different depending on the type of vestibular disease present.
 
*** Central vestibular disease
 
**** Nystagmus often is variable; i.e. rotary, horizontal and vertical.
 
*** Peripheral vestibular disease
 
**** The fast phase of the nystagmus is away from the side of the lesion.
 
 
=====Chronic=====
 
 
* Nystagmus may resolve in more chronic lesions.
 
** However, it may return with changes in head position.
 
*** I.e. positional nystagmus.
 
* Visual accomodation improves ataxic movements.
 
** However, these may return dramatically on blindfolding.
 
 
====Bilateral Vestibular Disease====
 
 
* An observable head tilt may not be present.
 
* Movements are likely to be markedly ataxic.
 
** This is probably due in part to involvement of ascending proprioceptive and descending motor pathways that run through the brainstem.
 
 
[[Category:Cranial Nerve Examination - Horse]]
 
 
===[[Pharyngeal and Laryngeal Function]]===
 
 
* The pharynx and larynx are innervated by:
 
** CN IX - the glossopharyngeal nerve
 
** CN X - the vagus nerve
 
** CN XI - the accessory nerve
 
* Pharyngeal and laryngeal function is best studied by:
 
*# Observing the horse eat and swallow
 
*# Endoscopy
 
 
====Laryngeal Dysfunction====
 
 
* Left recurrent laryngeal hemiplegia is the most common dysfunction in horses.
 
** The left recurrent laryngeal nerve is a branch of the vagus nerve.
 
** Horses are known as "roarers".
 
 
====Pharyngeal Dysfunction====
 
 
* Pharyngeal paralysis in horses is commonly associated with peripheral disease.
 
** Especially guttural pouch disease.
 
*** Endoscopy of the guttural pouches should be therefore be performed in horses that are dysphagic.
 
 
 
[[Category:Cranial Nerve Examination - Horse]]
 
 
 
===[[Tongue Movement]] ===
 
 
* The hypoglossal nerve, CN XII provides motor innervation to the [[Tongue - Anatomy & Physiology|tongue]].
 
* Normally, a horse resists the [[Tongue - Anatomy & Physiology|tongue]] being retracted from the mouth.
 
** The horse will quickly return the tongue after it is pulled out to the side.
 
* Horses with hypoglossal weakness appear differently.
 
** The [[Tongue - Anatomy & Physiology|tongue]] may protrude from the mouth.
 
** Chronic unilateral hypoglossal lesions may result in unilateral tongue atrophy.
 
** Bilateral hypoglossal lesions may result in difficulty prehending food.
 
* Horses with cerebral dysfunction may have signs corresponding to tongue weakness.
 
** However, [[Tongue - Anatomy & Physiology|tongue]] atrophy is not present in these animals.
 
 
 
 
[[Category:Cranial Nerve Examination - Horse]]
 
  
  
 
[[Category:Neurological Examination - Horse|C]]
 
[[Category:Neurological Examination - Horse|C]]

Latest revision as of 13:08, 10 March 2011

Cranial Nerve Examination - Horse

The cranial nerves are numbered 1-12 from the most rostral to the most caudal. A systematic examination of the cranial nerves can aid accurate identification of the site of a lesion. Cranial Nerve I is the olfactory nerve. Abnormalities are rarely detected in this nerve.

Pages in category "Cranial Nerve Examination - Horse"

The following 5 pages are in this category, out of 5 total.