Which cranial nerve is tested with the Rinne and Weber tests?

The Rinne and Weber tests are diagnostic examinations used to assess hearing and determine the type of hearing loss a patient may have. The cranial nerve primarily responsible for hearing and balance is cranial nerve VIII, which is the vestibulocochlear nerve.

In the Rinne test, a tuning fork is placed on the mastoid bone behind the ear to test bone conduction, and then next to the ear to test air conduction. The Weber test evaluates sound lateralization through the same tuning fork placed in the middle of the forehead. These tests specifically examine how well sound is conducted through the auditory system, which directly involves the function of cranial nerve VIII.

Given its crucial role in hearing, selecting cranial nerve VIII as the correct answer highlights the importance of this nerve in auditory assessments like the Rinne and Weber tests. The other cranial nerves mentioned do not have a direct role in hearing; therefore, they are not related to these specific tests.