CEA Nursing Practice Exam

Impaired gag reflex during a physical examination is suggestive of damage to which cranial nerve?

1. Abducens

2. Hypoglossal

3. Glossopharyngeal

4. Trigeminal

The correct answer is: Glossopharyngeal

Impaired gag reflex during a physical examination suggests damage to the glossopharyngeal nerve. The glossopharyngeal nerve is responsible for several functions, including sensation in the throat, the ability to swallow, and the gag reflex, which is an important protective mechanism. When this nerve is functioning properly, the presence of stimuli in the back of the throat will elicit a gag response. Damage to the glossopharyngeal nerve can result in a diminished or absent gag reflex, highlighting its critical role in this reflex pathway. The other cranial nerves listed do not have a primary role in the gag reflex. The abducens nerve primarily controls eye movement, specifically the lateral rectus muscle, while the hypoglossal nerve controls tongue movements. The trigeminal nerve is mainly involved in sensation from the face and motor functions such as biting and chewing, but it does not directly contribute to the gag reflex mechanism in the same way the glossopharyngeal nerve does. This is why an impaired gag reflex points specifically to issues with the glossopharyngeal nerve.