Shrugging the shoulders and eliciting neck movements tests which cranial nerve?

Shrugging the shoulders and eliciting neck movements tests which cranial nerve?

• A. Cranial Nerve XI
• B. Cranial Nerve VI
• C. Cranial Nerve VIII
• D. Cranial Nerve IX

Answer: (A)

The spinal accessory nerve (cranial nerve XI) is responsible for the muscles used in shrugging the shoulders and in moving the neck. It innervates two key muscles: the trapezius, which elevates the shoulders, and the sternocleidomastoid, which rotates and flexes the head. When you test these movements by asking a patient to shrug against resistance and to turn the head against resistance, you’re assessing the function of this nerve. If the shrug is weak or the patient struggles to rotate the head against resistance, CN XI may be impaired. The other nerves listed don’t control these movements. The abducens nerve (cranial VI) moves the eye laterally. The vestibulocochlear nerve (cranial VIII) handles hearing and balance. The glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial IX) is involved in swallowing and gag reflexes.

The spinal accessory nerve (cranial nerve XI) is responsible for the muscles used in shrugging the shoulders and in moving the neck. It innervates two key muscles: the trapezius, which elevates the shoulders, and the sternocleidomastoid, which rotates and flexes the head. When you test these movements by asking a patient to shrug against resistance and to turn the head against resistance, you’re assessing the function of this nerve. If the shrug is weak or the patient struggles to rotate the head against resistance, CN XI may be impaired.

The other nerves listed don’t control these movements. The abducens nerve (cranial VI) moves the eye laterally. The vestibulocochlear nerve (cranial VIII) handles hearing and balance. The glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial IX) is involved in swallowing and gag reflexes.