Vagus nerve

Nervus vagus

The tenth cranial nerve emerges from the medulla oblongata and exits the skull through the jugular foramen. It descends in the carotid sheath alongside the internal jugular vein and carotid artery. It gives off the recurrent laryngeal nerve and provides branches to the heart, lungs, and abdominal organs.

类型 Nerve
身体系统 Nervous
身体区域 Neck
上级结构 cranial nerve
拉丁名称 Nervus vagus
FMA ID 5731

功能

The longest cranial nerve (CN X), providing parasympathetic innervation to most thoracic and abdominal viscera. Controls heart rate, peristalsis, sweating, speech, and various reflex actions including coughing, swallowing, and the gag reflex.

临床意义

Vagus nerve stimulation is used to treat drug-resistant epilepsy and depression. Vagal tone affects heart rate variability. Vagotomy was historically used to treat peptic ulcers. Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury during thyroid surgery causes hoarseness.

下级结构

ramus auricularis of the vagus nerve Nerve

常见问题

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.

相关结构

accessory nucleus of optic tract nuclei accessorii tractus optici muscle spindle muscle stretch receptor mushroom body corpora pedunculata myelencephalon sulcus limitans cavum septum pellucidum cave of septum pellucidum spinal cord commissure neodentate part of dentate nucleus neodentate portion of dentate nucleus nerve nerves

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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.