A 12-year-old patient presents for a yearly examination. You decide to perform a Rinne test.<br/><br/>Which of the following cranial nerves does the Rinne test assess?
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✓ Correct answer: D. CN VIIIThe correct answer is B) CN VIII.<br/><br/>CN VIII is the auditory nerve, which is responsible for hearing. The Rinne test, which evaluates conductive hearing loss, is performed by striking a tuning fork at 256 or 512 Hz and placing it on the mastoid process. A normal test will show that air conduction is twice the time of bone conduction. If conductive hearing loss is present, bone conduction will be longer than air conduction.<br/><br/><strong>Choice A is incorrect. </strong>CN VI innervates the abducens nerve which is responsible for the movement of the lateral rectus eye muscle.<br/><br/><strong>Choice C is incorrect. </strong>CN VII innervates the facial nerve which is responsible for facial expression and taste.<br/><br/><strong>Choice D is incorrect. </strong>CN V innervates the trigeminal nerve which is responsible for facial movement and touch sensation.
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