clinical examination
Last reviewed 01/2018
The clinical examination of the glossopharyngeal nerve involves tests which simultaneously gauge the function of the vagus nerve:
- test the gag reflex - the glossopharyngeal nerve provides the sensory component, the tenth nerve supplies the motor component; ask if the patient can feel the spatula touching the palate
- test taste on the posterior third of the tongue - not usually carried out
- test swallowing