{"id":12209,"date":"2022-10-20T11:58:41","date_gmt":"2022-10-20T09:58:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.physiotutors.com\/?post_type=wiki&p=12209"},"modified":"2026-10-15T19:06:45","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T17:06:45","slug":"glossopharyngeal-nerve","status":"publish","type":"wiki","link":"https:\/\/www.physiotutors.com\/wiki\/glossopharyngeal-nerve\/","title":{"rendered":"Glossopharyngeal Nerve"},"featured_media":12210,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":""},"class_list":["post-12209","wiki","type-wiki","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"free_access":"","app_link":"","sections":[{"acf_fc_layout":"page-header-detail-page","background":{"background_image":12210,"background_image_alt_text":"Glossopharyngeal Nerve"},"heading":"Glossopharyngeal Nerve | Cranial Nerve IX \/ CN IX Assessment","subheading":"Screening","content_editor":"","button_type":"internal_link","button_label":"Check our shop","button_style":"button-five","button_internal_link":4646,"button_anchor":"","button_url":"","button_file":null,"label":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"submenu","links":[{"button_type":"anchor","button_label":"Learn","button_internal_link":null,"button_anchor":"section-number-3","button_url":"","button_file":null},{"button_type":"anchor","button_label":"Free sample","button_internal_link":null,"button_anchor":"section-number-5","button_url":"","button_file":null},{"button_type":"anchor","button_label":"Assessment E-Book","button_internal_link":null,"button_anchor":"section-number-6","button_url":"","button_file":null}],"dropdown_label":"Go to","button_right":{"button_type":"internal_link","button_label":"Try Premium free","button_style":"button-three","button_internal_link":26802,"button_anchor":"","button_url":"","button_file":""},"button_description":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content-content","section_options":{"vertical_alignment":"top","column_right_box":false,"column_left_width":"col-12 col-lg-4 offset"},"column_left":{"content_editor":"

Learn<\/h4>"},"column_right":{"content_editor":"

Glossopharyngeal Nerve | Cranial Nerve IX \/ CN IX Assessment<\/h2>\nThe glossopharyngeal (CN IX) and vagus nerve (CN X) are commonly assessed together. They primarily innervate the muscles of the tongue and pharynx, the thorax, abdominal viscera, and larynx. No diagnostic accuracy studies are available on these assessments so the clinical value is unknown.\u00a0<\/span>\n
\n\n[embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HG78dKdMyVE[\/embed]\n\n<\/div>\nThe patient may report having difficulties swallowing so asking the patient to take a sip on your command can be used as one assessment. You\u2019d expect no delay or difficulty swallowing once you ask the patient to take a sip.\u00a0<\/span>\n\nFurthermore ask the patient to say \u201caah\u201d with the mouth wide open and check if the uvula elevates, inspect the palate for symmetry as well.<\/span>\n\nExamine the patient's voice and cough. A hoarse voice or bovine cough can be indicative of vagus nerve impairment due to a lack of closing of the vocal cords creating a hollow sound.<\/span>\n\nLastly, the gag reflex can be assessed. Using a tongue depressor touch the back of the tongue on both sides and check for a gag reflex. Alternatively use a wisp of cotton and touch the soft palate. <\/span>\n\n \n\n \n\nLearn more about the assessment of all cranial nerves below:\n