Final answer:
The vestibulocochlear nerve carries sensations of equilibrium and hearing from the inner ear to the medulla.
Step-by-step explanation:
The vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII) carries both equilibrium and auditory sensations from the inner ear to the medulla. The vestibular sensation is responsible for our sense of balance and body position, while the cochlea transduces sound waves into neural signals for hearing.
Problems with balance, such as vertigo, and deficits in hearing may both indicate issues with the inner ear. The vestibulocochlear nerve emerges from the inner ear, passes through the internal auditory meatus, and synapses in the nuclei of the superior medulla. Damage to structures near these nuclei can result in deficits to one or both systems.