Nerve Cranial VIII

Cranial Nerve VIII

Cranial nerve VIII (n. vestibulocochlearis) is a paired cranial nerve that innervates the auditory and vestibular analyzers.

It consists of two parts:

1. The vestibulocochlear nerve (nerve of Corti) - innervates the organ of hearing (organ of Corti).

2. Vestibular nerve - innervates the vestibular apparatus.

The nuclei of nerve VIII are located in the medulla oblongata.

The central processes of the neurons of the nuclei of nerve VIII go to the nuclei of the auditory pathways (lateral lemniscus, medial lemniscus, trapezoid body).

The peripheral processes form the vestibulocochlear and vestibular nerves.

Function: conducting excitation from the receptors of the hearing and balance organs to the central nervous system.