Cranial nerve disease

Cranial nerve disease is a term used to describe an impaired functioning of one of the twelve cranial nerves.

Although it could theoretically be considered a mononeuropathy, it is not considered as such under MeSH.

It is possible for a disorder of more than cranial nerve to occur at the same time, if a trauma occurs at a location where many cranial nerves run together, such as the jugular fossa. A brainstem lesion could also cause impaired functioning of multiple cranial nerves, but this condition would likely also be accompanied by distal motor impairment.

A neurological examination can test the functioning of individual cranial nerves, and detect specific impairments.

Examples

• Eyes
  • Oculomotor nerve palsy - Oculomotor nerve (III)
  • Fourth nerve palsy - Trochlear nerve (IV)
  • Sixth nerve palsy - Abducens nerve (VI)
• Other
  • Trigeminal neuralgia - Trigeminal nerve (V)
  • Facial nerve paralysis, Bell's palsy, Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome, Central seven - Facial nerve (VII)
  • Accessory nerve disorder - Accessory nerve (XI)