{# Crawler directives — per-engine only. A bare `robots` meta is deliberately absent: pruning here is a Google indexation decision, never a crawl block, so AI crawlers keep the full surface. #}

Nerf vague

Nervus vagus

The longest cranial nerve, the vagus nerve (CN X) provides parasympathetic innervation to most of the thoracic and abdominal viscera, influencing heart rate, peristalsis, sweating, and speech, as well as reflexes such as coughing, swallowing, and the gag reflex. It emerges from the medulla oblongata, leaves the skull through the jugular foramen, and descends within the carotid sheath alongside the internal jugular vein and the carotid artery, giving off the recurrent laryngeal nerve and branches to the heart, lungs, and abdominal organs. Stimulation of the nerve is used to treat drug-resistant epilepsy and depression, and vagal tone shapes heart rate variability. Vagotomy was once used to treat peptic ulcers, and injury to the recurrent laryngeal branch during thyroid surgery causes hoarseness.

Le dixième nerf crânien émerge du bulbe rachidien et sort du crâne par le foramen jugulaire. Il descend dans la gaine carotidienne aux côtés de la veine jugulaire interne et de l'artère carotide. Il donne naissance au nerf laryngé récurrent et fournit des branches au cœur, aux poumons et aux organes abdominaux.

On this page
Type Nerve
Système corporel Nerveux
Région corporelle Cou
Structure parente cranial nerve
Nom latin Nervus vagus
FMA ID 5731

Fonction

Le nerf crânien le plus long (X), assurant l'innervation parasympathique de la plupart des viscères thoraciques et abdominaux. Il contrôle la fréquence cardiaque, le péristaltisme, la transpiration, la parole et diverses actions réflexes, notamment la toux, la déglutition et le réflexe nauséeux.

Signification clinique

La stimulation du nerf vague est utilisée pour traiter l'épilepsie pharmacorésistante et la dépression. Le tonus vagal affecte la variabilité de la fréquence cardiaque. La vagotomie était historiquement utilisée pour traiter l'ulcère peptique. La lésion du nerf laryngé récurrent pendant la chirurgie thyroïdienne provoque un enrouement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the vagus nerve control?

The vagus nerve (cranial nerve X) controls a wide range of autonomic functions including heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, and reflex actions such as coughing and swallowing. It is the primary nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system and supplies motor and sensory fibers to the heart, lungs, and most abdominal organs.

Where does the vagus nerve travel?

The vagus nerve originates in the medulla oblongata of the brainstem and exits the skull through the jugular foramen. It descends through the neck alongside the carotid artery and jugular vein, passes through the thorax near the esophagus, and extends into the abdomen via the esophageal hiatus, reaching as far as the transverse colon.

What happens when the vagus nerve is damaged?

Vagus nerve damage can cause hoarseness or voice changes (due to recurrent laryngeal nerve injury), difficulty swallowing, abnormal heart rate, gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying), and altered blood pressure regulation. Bilateral damage is particularly serious and can affect breathing and cardiac function significantly.

References

  1. Foundational Model of Anatomy — FMA:5731 Reference anatomy ontology (University of Washington)
  2. UBERON — UBERON:0001759 Cross-species anatomy ontology (EMBL-EBI Ontology Lookup Service)
  3. Wikipedia — Nerf vague Encyclopedia article (verified cross-reference)

Avertissement médical

Ce contenu est uniquement à des fins éducatives et informatives. Il n'est pas destiné à remplacer un avis médical professionnel, un diagnostic ou un traitement. Consultez toujours votre médecin ou un autre professionnel de santé qualifié pour toute question relative à un état médical. Ne négligez jamais un avis médical professionnel et ne tardez pas à le consulter en raison de quelque chose que vous avez lu sur ce site web.

Educational Disclaimer

This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical decisions.

Data sources: Terminologia Anatomica, Foundational Model of Anatomy, Wikidata.