On 119 brain stem halves the nerve root fasciculi of the intermediary nerve were examined in respect of their position relative to the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves. The following variants were seen: 1.) the intermediary nerve lies between the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves as stated in the textbooks, in 32.9% of the cases; 2.) in 18.5% of the cases it is entirely apposited to the vestibulocochlear nerve from the beginning and branches off from that nerve only later; 3.) part of the nerve root fasciculi are apposited to the vestibulocochlear nerve and the others originate between the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves. This was seen in 49.6% of the cases.