Question

Damage to which cranial nerves might produce the following results.
a) inability to move the tongue
b) inability to taste
c)inability to move the eyes in any direction
d) inability to shrug the shoulders
e) inability to swallow

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

The cranial nerves arise from the brain and form part of the peripheral nervous system associated with receptors and effectors in the head. In humans there are 12 pairs of cranial nerves confined to the head and neck. They include optic, auditory, olfactory and facial nerves. The tenth cranial nerve- the vagus nerve- innervates the heart, lungs, diaphragm and gut.

Damage cause to the olfactory nerve(Hypoglosal XIII motor) would result in inability to move the tongue, inability to taste and inability to swallow. When optic nerve( abducent VII and oculomotor III) is damaged, the eyes will not move in any direction. Damage to the accessory nerves( accessory XI) would result in inability to shrug shoulders.