Final answer:
An acoustic neuroma, also known as vestibular schwannoma, is a benign tumor that develops on the eighth cranial nerve which carries hearing and balance sensations. Damage to this nerve can cause hearing loss and balance issues. Auditory hair cells anchored to the basilar membrane are responsible for transducing sound waves into electrical signals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, the statement 'Acoustic neuroma is also called vestibular schwannoma' is true. An acoustic neuroma or vestibular schwannoma is a noncancerous growth that develops on the eighth cranial nerve, also known as the vestibulocochlear nerve, which carries balance and hearing information between the inner ear and the brain. The term 'vestibular' refers to the nerve's connection with the vestibule, a part of the inner ear that is deeply involved in maintaining balance. Additionally, 'schwannoma' refers to the type of cells that form the tumor, called Schwann cells.
The vestibulocochlear nerve carries both equilibrium and auditory sensations from the inner ear to the medulla. They are part of distinct sensory systems, the vestibular nuclei and the cochlear nuclei are close neighbors with adjacent inputs. Damage to these structures near the two nuclei can result in deficits to one or both systems. Hence, symptoms of acoustic neuroma can include both hearing loss and balance issues.
The Auditory hair cells are indirectly anchored to the basilar membrane in the inner ear and play a crucial role in converting sound waves into electrical signals. Higher processing further interprets these signals as sounds.
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