Vestibulocochlear nerve
Nervus vestibulocochlearis
- Synonym: Acousticovestibular nerve; Statoacoustic nerve
- Related terms: Vestibulocochlear nerve [VIII]
Definition
The vestibulocochlear nerve (VII) is a sensory, exteroceptive and proprioceptive nerve. It is composed of two distinct sets of fibers : some involved in hearing (cochlear nerve), and others providing information on the sens of body position and the mechanism of equilibrium (vestibular nerve).
Number : VII
Sensory, motor, or both : mostly sensory
Origin : lateral edge of the medulla oblongata, near the end of the trapezoid body
Route / Reports : attached to the facial nerve, they join directly with the internal acoustic meatus, where they separate and where the vestibulocochlear nerve divides into the vestibular nerve and the cochlear nerve
Distribution : cochlear nerve in the acoustic area (rostro-ventral part of the bottom of the internal acoustic meatus) and vestibular nerve in the caudal area
Description :
The vestibulocochlear nerve originates at the lateral edge of the medulla oblongata, near the end of the trapezoid body, and divides in two in the internal acoustic meatus, where it is joined to the facial nerve, giving rise to the cochlear and vestibular nerves.
References
Constantinescu GM, Schaller O. Illustrated veterinary anatomical nomenclature. 3rd Edition. Enke Verlag, Stuttgart, 2012.
Barone R, Simoens P. Anatomie comparée des mammifères domestiques, Tome 7, Neurologie II, Vigot, Paris, 2010.
