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Pain referral
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Cranial nerve
Spinal nerve
Historical
Signs and Symptoms of Lesions
Disorders of smell: loss of smell (if
bilateral, consider colds, rhinitis, sinusitis etc.; if unilateral, consider
possible frontal lobe lesion and/or neoplasm); abnormal keen sense of smell
(consider some hysterias or possible cocaine abuse); parosphresia, the
perception of smelling nonexistent odors (consider schizophrenia; uncinate gyrus
lesions and/or hysteria).
Smell hallucinations (Cacosmia): consider
psychoses; temporal lobe lesions; uncinate seizures.
Olfactory Nerve Test
Using nonirritating familiar odors (coffee,
therapeutic ointment with a eucalyptus* base, camphor, wintergreen)** with
the individual’s eyes closed, the practitioner suppresses one nostril (to avoid testing
both at same time) and passes the substance under the individual’s nose.
The test
should be performed bilaterally. With the individual’s eyes remaining closed, ask
as to when the odor is introduced, withdrawn, and the type of odor. Record
the findings
as it pertains to correctly or incorrectly identifying the odors. (Note which
nostril was open.) Even if the individual is not able to identify the exact
odor, but is aware of an odor being introduced, it excludes loss of smell.
*Note: Check for allergies with eucalyptus.
**Note: Several authors frequently
recommend the use of pepper,
however, we discourage this. It induces sneezing, which can worsen disc
involvement. © Copyright American Academy of Manual Medicine. 2001, 2007. 2008. All rights reserved.
Cranial nerve I - the Olfactory nerve
Olfactory nerve test