A 41-year-old man complains of double vision. Whilst looking forward, the patient's left eye turns towards the nose. On looking to the patient's right, there is no obvious squint.... A 41-year-old man complains of double vision. Whilst looking forward, the patient's left eye turns towards the nose. On looking to the patient's right, there is no obvious squint. However, on looking to the left, the patient is unable to abduct the left eye and double vision worsens. Which of the following is the most likely cranial nerve palsy? A. Left 3rd B. Left 6th C. Right 3rd D. Right 6th
Understand the Problem
The question is presenting a clinical scenario of a patient experiencing double vision and asks which cranial nerve palsy is most likely based on the symptoms related to eye movement. The question involves clinical reasoning to determine the correct cranial nerve affected.
Answer
B. Left 6th
The final answer is B. Left 6th
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is B. Left 6th
More Information
The sixth cranial nerve controls the lateral rectus muscle, which is responsible for abducting the eye. Palsy of this nerve results in inability to turn the eye outward, causing issues with lateral gaze which fits the symptoms described.
Tips
A common mistake is not associating the specific eye movement restriction with the correct cranial nerve. Remembering which muscles and nerves control each eye movement can avoid confusion.
Sources
- Sixth Nerve Palsy: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment - Cleveland Clinic - my.clevelandclinic.org
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