Plain English Meaning

It is the nerve that sends balance and motion information from your inner ear to your brain.

Full Definition

The vestibular nerve is the branch of the eighth cranial nerve that carries balance and motion signals from the vestibular system of the inner ear (the semicircular canals and the otolith organs) to the brain, where they are combined with input from the eyes and body to produce the sense of orientation.

Context Anchor

Seen in instrument flying discussions about the inner ear, balance, and why pilots can feel motion or attitude incorrectly in clouds or at night.

Derivation

From Latin vestibulum, meaning 'entrance hall' -- the small chamber of the inner ear that sits between the cochlea and the semicircular canals. The nerve serving that area is the vestibular nerve.