The human ear can be divided antomically into external ear (before the eardrum), middle ear (after the eardrum), and inner ear (embedded in the petrous part of the temporal bone). In the inner ear, we have several structures; one of which is the cochlea which is the organ responsible for converting mechanical vibrations (from the middle ear) to electrical signals to be sent and interpreted in the brain (through the cochlear component of the vestibulocochlear nerve or cranial nerve VIII). Another structure is the fluid-filled semicircular canal (to include the utricle and the saccule) which is responsible for balance. The signals from the semicircular canals are sent through the vestibular component of the vestibulocochlear nerve to be interpreted in the brain. The correct answer would be hearing and balance.