Which cranial nerve is typically not examined in a newborn due to rare involvement?

• A. Cranial nerve II
• B. Cranial nerve VIII
• C. Cranial nerve XII
• D. Cranial nerve I

Answer: (D)

Olfactory nerve function is not routinely assessed in newborns because smelling is hard to test reliably in a neonate and abnormalities are uncommon, so screening it at birth has limited clinical value. In the newborn exam, clinicians focus on cranial nerves whose function can be observed straightforwardly and whose impairment would signal meaningful pathology. The optic nerve is checked through visual tracking and pupil response, the vestibulocochlear nerve through hearing and startle responses, and the hypoglossal nerve through tongue movements. These are practical, informative checks at the bedside, making cranial nerve I the one typically not examined.