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What is the Eighth Cranial Nerve?

Dulce Corazon
Dulce Corazon

Nerves in the brain are called cranial nerves. There are 12 pairs of them, each having specific sensory or motor functions. One of these nerves is the vestivulocochlear nerve, also known as the eighth cranial nerve. It is composed of two sensory branches, the vestibular nerve and the cochlear or auditory nerve. Hearing is the function of the cochlear nerve, while body position sense comes from the vestibular nerve.

The eighth cranial nerve arises from the brain stem, which is connected with the spinal cord and is located at the base of the skull. It travels from the inner part of the ear towards the brain. In the inner ear are receptor cells that receive vibrations of sound and noise from the outside, which then stimulate the cochlear nerve to send these sounds to the brain for interpretation. Head movements also affect the fluid inside the ear and stimulate the vestibular nerve to send information to the brain regarding the body's sense of balance or position.

The vestibular nerve is involved in sensing the body's position.
The vestibular nerve is involved in sensing the body's position.

Injury or damage to either branch of the eighth cranial nerve often results in several symptoms. When the cochlear nerve is affected, manifestations include tinnitus or ear ringing, poor hearing ability, and deafness. Hearing loss is usually due to noise exposure, otitis media, or the inflammation of the middle part of the ear, ear wax impaction or blockage, and presbycusis. Presbycusis is a term referring to the hearing loss brought about by old age. Some infants may also be born with defects in the cochlear nerve and become deaf for life.

All 12 cranial nerves arise from the brain stem, an area near the base of the brain.
All 12 cranial nerves arise from the brain stem, an area near the base of the brain.

When the vestibular branch of the eighth cranial nerve is affected by injury or disease, symptoms usually include dizziness, nausea, ataxia, vomiting, and nystagmus. Ataxia means instability or unsteadiness when doing voluntary movements. Nystagmus denotes abnormal and involuntary rapid eye movements. Affected patients also present with vertigo, or the false sensation that the environment is spinning. Causes frequently include tumors, degenerative diseases, vestibular neuritis, and intoxication from medications or alcohol.

The results of brain scans may be helpful in diagnosing a problem with the eight cranial nerve.
The results of brain scans may be helpful in diagnosing a problem with the eight cranial nerve.

Diagnosis of injuries to this nerve is often done by a neurologist, a doctor who treats diseases of the nervous system. He usually takes the patient's medical and family history, and then performs special tests to evaluate the functions of the eighth cranial nerve. Other diagnostic tools that may also be helpful include the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scan. Treatment often depends on the cause of the patient's symptoms.

Discussion Comments

Monika

@SZapper - Glad things worked out all right for your friend.

When I was growing up my friends dad suffered from tinnitus. I remember at the time she told me thinking how horrible it must to be have ringing in your ears all the time. When I found out you can get it from damaging your ears with loud noise I made it a point to protect my ears from that day forward!

SZapper

A former coworker of mine suffered damage to her eighth cranial nerve. She ended up with terrible vertigo that comes on with no warning!

Once she actually got vertigo at work and ended up having to prove to our managers she wasn't on drugs before being allowed to come back! Since we were working in a bar I suppose I can see why they thought that, but at the time I thought it was totally heartless of them! But after she brought in her doctors note she was allowed to continue working, so no harm done I guess.

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    • The vestibular nerve is involved in sensing the body's position.
      By: Rob hyrons
      The vestibular nerve is involved in sensing the body's position.
    • All 12 cranial nerves arise from the brain stem, an area near the base of the brain.
      By: 7activestudio
      All 12 cranial nerves arise from the brain stem, an area near the base of the brain.
    • The results of brain scans may be helpful in diagnosing a problem with the eight cranial nerve.
      By: StockPhotosArt
      The results of brain scans may be helpful in diagnosing a problem with the eight cranial nerve.
    • Each cranial nerve has specific sensory or motor functions.
      By: arkela
      Each cranial nerve has specific sensory or motor functions.
    • The cochlear nerve is responsible for an individual's ability to hear.
      By: Voyagerix
      The cochlear nerve is responsible for an individual's ability to hear.
    • Some people who suffer from nystagmus experience ataxia and dizziness.
      By: elizalebedewa
      Some people who suffer from nystagmus experience ataxia and dizziness.
    • A CT scan may be used to aid in the diagnosis of injuries to the eighth cranial nerve.
      By: Konstantin Sutyagin
      A CT scan may be used to aid in the diagnosis of injuries to the eighth cranial nerve.
    • An MRI may play an important role in diagnosing injuries to the eighth cranial nerve.
      By: jovannig
      An MRI may play an important role in diagnosing injuries to the eighth cranial nerve.