vestibulocochlear

Of or relating to the vestibule and the cochlea of the ear.

Pertaining to the eighth cranial nerve. The vestibular division serves the vestibule of the ear and the semicircular canals, carrying impulses for equilibrium. The cochlear division serves the cochlea and carries impulses for the sense of hearing. Called also acoustic nerve and auditory nerve.

• v. nerve
• v. nerve paralysis — manifested by defective hearing if the cochlear nerve is damaged, or rotation, loss of balance and falling to one side if the cochlear branch is the affected one.
• v. nerve root granuloma — in calves a chronic inflammatory lesion causing facial paralysis and loss of balance.
• v. nucleus — a series of at least five nuclei on each side of the brainstem, three vestibular and two cochlear.