What cranial nerves pass through the internal acoustic meatus?

What cranial nerves pass through the internal acoustic meatus?

• A. CN II and III (2 and 3)
• B. CN IX and X (9 and 10)
• C. CN VII and VIII (7 and 8)
• D. CN V and VI (5 and 6)

Answer: (C)

The internal acoustic meatus carries nerves involved in facial movement and hearing/balance. Specifically, it transmits the facial nerve (CN VII) and the vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII), usually alongside the labyrinthine artery. The other options involve nerves that exit the skull through different openings: optic canal or superior orbital fissure for the optic and eye-motor nerves, jugular foramen for IX–XI, and various foramina (like foramen ovale or foramen rotundum) for V, or the hypoglossal canal for XII. Thus, only the facial nerve and vestibulocochlear nerve pass through the internal acoustic meatus.

The internal acoustic meatus carries nerves involved in facial movement and hearing/balance. Specifically, it transmits the facial nerve (CN VII) and the vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII), usually alongside the labyrinthine artery. The other options involve nerves that exit the skull through different openings: optic canal or superior orbital fissure for the optic and eye-motor nerves, jugular foramen for IX–XI, and various foramina (like foramen ovale or foramen rotundum) for V, or the hypoglossal canal for XII. Thus, only the facial nerve and vestibulocochlear nerve pass through the internal acoustic meatus.