Vestibular nerve
Vestibular Nerve
The Vestibular Nerve (/vɛˈstɪbjʊlər nɜːrv/), also known as the VIIIth cranial nerve or the vestibulocochlear nerve, is one of the twelve cranial nerves in the human body. It is responsible for transmitting sensory information from the inner ear to the brain.
Etymology
The term "vestibular" is derived from the Latin word "vestibulum", which means entrance. This is in reference to the nerve's origin in the vestibule of the inner ear. The term "nerve" comes from the Latin "nervus", meaning sinew or string.
Function
The vestibular nerve carries information from the vestibular system, which is involved in maintaining balance and spatial orientation. It transmits signals from the semicircular canals, which detect rotational movements, and the otolith organs, which detect linear accelerations.
Related Terms
- Cranial nerve: Any of the twelve paired nerves that come directly from the brain, not from the spinal cord.
- Inner ear: The innermost part of the ear, containing the cochlea, vestibule, and semicircular canals.
- Vestibular system: The sensory system that contributes to balance and spatial orientation.
- Semicircular canals: Three tiny, fluid-filled tubes in your inner ear that help you keep your balance.
- Otolith organs: The utricle and the saccule, which are sensitive to gravity and linear acceleration.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Vestibular nerve
- Wikipedia's article - Vestibular nerve
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski