Which cranial nerve serves the sense of balance and hearing?

The cranial nerve responsible for the sense of balance and hearing is the vestibulocochlear nerve, also known as cranial nerve VIII. This nerve has two main functions: the vestibular component, which is essential for maintaining balance and spatial orientation, and the cochlear component, which is responsible for transmitting sound information from the inner ear to the brain.

The vestibulocochlear nerve collects sensory information from the inner ear's hair cells. These hair cells respond to head movements and sound vibrations, translating them into neural signals that the brain can interpret. This dual role is critical for both auditory perception and equilibrium, distinguishing the vestibulocochlear nerve from the other cranial nerves listed. Other cranial nerves serve different functions, such as facial sensation or taste, but none of them are directly involved in balancing and hearing. Thus, the vestibulocochlear nerve is uniquely suited to these particular sensory modalities.