To assess both the trigeminal and facial nerves, which action would be appropriate?

Touching a cotton wisp to the cornea is an appropriate action to assess both the trigeminal and facial nerves because it evaluates sensory and motor functions associated with these cranial nerves. The trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V) is responsible for sensation in the face and motor functions such as chewing. The sensory component of the trigeminal nerve corresponds to the corneal reflex, where touching the cornea with a cotton wisp elicits a blinking response facilitated by the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII), which controls the muscles responsible for blinking.

This action effectively tests the sensory pathway of the trigeminal nerve and also assesses the motor response provided by the facial nerve, allowing a comprehensive evaluation in one simple maneuver. By doing this, you can determine if there are any deficits in both nerves simultaneously, making it an efficient choice for this specific assessment.

In contrast, shining a light into the patient's pupil assesses the optic nerve and the reflex pathways not specifically related to the trigeminal and facial nerves. Checking for unilateral eyelid drooping primarily tests for facial nerve issues without evaluating sensory function. Having the patient read a magazine involves verbal communication and visual capability, which does not directly assess the functions of the trigeminal or facial nerves