Final answer:
The auditory nerves connect to the Cranial Nerve VIII (vestibulocochlear nerve) on the same side as the cochlea, responsible for transmitting sound waves from the inner ear to the brain. The cochlea converts sound waves into neural signals that travel through this nerve. Both hearing and balance are part of the vestibular system which can be affected by damage to adjacent structures in the inner ear.
Step-by-step explanation:
Auditory nerves connect to the Cranial Nerve VIII (vestibulocochlear nerve) on the same side as the cochlea. The vestibulocochlear nerve is responsible for carrying both equilibrium (balance) and auditory (hearing) sensations from the inner ear to the brain.
Specifically, the cochlea in the inner ear is responsible for transducing sound waves into neural signals that travel through this nerve. Deficits in hearing may indicate problems with this system, and the same is true for issues with balance pointing to potential vestibular system issues. The vestibular system and auditory system share some structures such as hair cells, but they have separate nuclei in the brain for processing their specific sensory information. Damage to nearby structures could impact both hearing and balance.