auditory nerve

noun

: either of the eighth pair of cranial nerves connecting the inner ear with the brain and transmitting impulses concerned with hearing and balance see ear illustration

Examples of auditory nerve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The device, which uses electrodes to stimulate auditory nerves in the inner ear, allows patients to hear sounds, especially those needed to understand speech. Gina Kolata, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2024 Cochlear implants are surgically implanted devices that stimulate the auditory nerve to provide a sense of sound to its wearer. Emily Mullin, WIRED, 24 Jan. 2024 The hair cells send their signals through the auditory nerve to the brain. Jeffrey Kluger, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 This chemical initiates an electrical signal in the auditory nerve that's sent to the part of the brain that interprets sound. WIRED, 20 Oct. 2023 These devices stimulate the auditory nerve using electrodes. WIRED, 20 Oct. 2023 There are emerging theories about what causes it: Damage to auditory nerves. Curbed, 7 Aug. 2023 Cochlear implants currently require digital signal processing, which involves receiving a sound, converting it from analog to digital, and processing the digital signal before stimulating the auditory nerve. IEEE Spectrum, 22 May 2023 Once activated, the stimulation of the auditory nerve sends signals to the brain, which then interpret them as sound for that ear. David Begnaud, CBS News, 8 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'auditory nerve.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of auditory nerve was in 1713

Dictionary Entries Near auditory nerve

Cite this Entry

“Auditory nerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/auditory%20nerve. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

auditory nerve

noun
: a nerve connecting the inner ear with the brain and carrying nerve impulses concerned with hearing and balance

Medical Definition

auditory nerve

noun
: either of the eighth pair of cranial nerves connecting the inner ear with the brain, transmitting impulses concerned with hearing and balance, and composed of the cochlear nerve and the vestibular nerve

called also acoustic nerve, auditory, eighth cranial nerve, vestibulocochlear nerve

More from Merriam-Webster on auditory nerve

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!