Vestibulocochlear n.

(CN Vlll}

Location:

 Posterior cranial fossa

 Petrous portion of temporal bone

Composition:

 Special sensation

Special sensation:

 Hearing (cochlea)

 Balance (semicircular canals and vestibule)

Sensory ganglion:

 Cochlear (spiral) ganglion (cochlear part of CN VIII)

 Vestibular ganglion (vestibular part of CN VIII)

CNS connection:

 Pons (vestibular nuclei)

 Medulla oblongata (cochlear and vestibular nuclei)

Cranial foramina:

 Internal acoustic meatus

Comment:

 Special sensation includes smell, vision, taste, hearing, and balance

 Vestibulocochlear nerve has two distinct functional components: vestibular (balance) and
cochlear (hearing)

 Vestibulocochlear nerve also known as CN VIII

Auricle of ear

Location:

 Head (lateral)

Description:

 Appendage of skin, cartilage, and connective tissue

 Contains part of external acoustic meatus

Also known as:

 External ear or pinna

Comment:

 Acts like a funnel to collect and modify sound waves

 Latin: auri = an ear

Cochlea

Location:

 Temporal bone (petrous part)

Description:

 Coiled membranous tube surrounded by bone

 Contains three fluid-filled chambers

Comment:

 Organ of hearing

 Contains spiral organ (of Corti) in cochlear duct

Semicircular canals

Location:

 Temporal bone (petrous part)

Description:

 The three semicircular canals are part of the bony labyrinth

 Each semicircular canal contains a membranous semicircular duct

 Orientation of ducts in perpendicular (X, Y, and Z) planes

Comment:

 The membranous semicircular ducts are part of the vestibular apparatus, i.e. organs of
equilibrium

Temporal lobe

Location:

 Lateral and inferior portion of each cerebral hemisphere

 Inferior to lateral sulcus

Description:

 Lateral surface has three parallel gyri

Function:

 Primary hearing and smell areas

 Memory

 Speech perception and recognition (i.e., Wernicke's area - usually in left hemisphere)

Comment:

 Named for overlying bone

 Tympanic membrane

Location:

 Temporal bone (petrous part)

Description:

 Thin, semi-transparent, oval membrane

 Separates external acoustic meatus (external ear) from tympanic cavity (middle ear)

Also known as:

 "Ear drum"

Comment:

 Attached to malleus (ossicle)

Vestibule of ear
Location:
 Temporal bone (petrous part)
Description:
 The vestibule is part of the bony labyrinth
 The vestibule contains the utricle and saccule
 The utricle and saccule are membranous sacs at base of semicircular ducts
Comment:
 The membranous utricle and saccule are part of the vestibular apparatus, i.e. organs of equilibrium
 Vestibulocochlear n, CN Vlll
Location:
 Posterior cranial fossa
 Petrous portion of temporal bone
Composition:
 Special sensation
Special sensation:
 Hearing (cochlea)
 Balance (semicircular canals and vestibule)
Sensory ganglion:
 Cochlear (spiral) ganglion (cochlear part of CN VIII)
 Vestibular ganglion (vestibular part of CN VIII)
CNS connection:
 Pons (vestibular nuclei)
 Medulla oblongata (cochlear and vestibular nuclei)
Cranial foramina:
 Internal acoustic meatus
Comment:
 Special sensation includes smell, vision, taste, hearing, and balance
 Vestibulocochlear nerve has two distinct functional components: vestibular (balance) and cochlear (hearing)
 Vestibulocochlear nerve also known as CN VIII