<prompt> Injury to the cranial nerve VIII affects the following function in the body?TasteEquilibriumTouchSmell  <response>: CN VIII vestibulocochlear nerve originates from the grooves between the pons and the medulla oblongata. CN VIII divides into the cochlear branch to the cochlea hearing and the vestibular branch to the semicircular canal equilibrium. Injury to CN VIII can result in ipsilateral deafness, tinnitus ringing in the ear, and veigo loss of balance. Ref: Moon D.A., Foreman K.B., Albeine K.H. 2011. Chapter 17. Cranial Nerves. In D.A. Moon, K.B. Foreman, K.H. Albeine Eds, The Big Picture: Gross Anatomy. 