nervus vestibulocochlearis

9.9

A nerve that carries sound and balance messages from the ear to the brain

noun
/ˈnɜrvəs ˌvɛstɪbjuˈkoʊkliərɪs/

Specialized

: nervio vestibulococlear

Damage to the nervus vestibulocochlearis can result in both hearing loss and problems with balance.

Examples

During anatomy class, we learned that the nervus vestibulocochlearis carries signals from the ear to the brain.
An MRI was ordered to check for tumors affecting the nervus vestibulocochlearis in patients with sudden hearing loss.
The nervus vestibulocochlearis is crucial for hearing.
I learned about the nervus vestibulocochlearis in my anatomy class.
Damage to the nervus vestibulocochlearis can result in both hearing loss and problems with balance.
An MRI was ordered to check for tumors affecting the nervus vestibulocochlearis in patients with sudden hearing loss.
During anatomy class, we learned that the nervus vestibulocochlearis carries signals from the ear to the brain.

Synonyms

auditory nerve

vsnervus vestibulocochlearis

Specialized

1 4.5

A nerve that carries sound and balance signals from the inner ear to the brain

is the anatomical term stressing both hearing and balance roles

vestibulocochlear nerve

vsnervus vestibulocochlearis

Specialized

6.3

A nerve in the inner ear that sends sound and balance signals to the brain

is the formal anatomical name for the same nerve

eighth cranial nerve

vsnervus vestibulocochlearis

Specialized

6.6

The nerve that carries sound and balance signals from the inner ear to the brain

is an alternative term used in anatomy for this nerve

acoustic nerve

vsnervus vestibulocochlearis

Specialized

4.6

The nerve that carries sound and balance signals from the inner ear to the brain

is another common name for the same sensory nerve

Surface Forms

nervus vestibulocochlearis singular

nervi vestibulocochlearis plural

Morphology

nervus + vestibulocochlearis

This is a Latin medical term: although 'nervus' straightforwardly means 'nerve', the element 'vestibulocochlearis' is a specialized, technical compound (vestibulo- + cochlearis) that is not a common English word and would not be interpretable by an average B1 learner. The specific anatomical meaning (the eighth cranial nerve serving balance and hearing) therefore cannot be derived from the constituents at B1 level, making the expression opaque.

Etymology

Nervus vestibulocochlearis comes from Latin parts that describe its job: nervus means 'nerve', vestibulo points to the inner-ear area for balance (a little 'entrance' space), and cochlearis comes from 'cochlea', the spiral, snail-like part for hearing. So the name literally tells us this nerve carries signals for 'balance' and 'hearing'.