Pneumogastric nerve

Pneumogastric Nerve

The right pneumogastric nerve and its branches. (Image from Gray's Anatomy)

The Pneumogastric Nerve, also known as the Vagus Nerve, is the tenth cranial nerve or CN X, and interfaces with parasympathetic control of the heart, lungs, and digestive tract. It is the longest nerve of the autonomic nervous system in the human body.

Structure

The pneumogastric nerve is a mixed nerve that contains parasympathetic fibers. It has two sensory ganglia: the superior ganglion and the inferior ganglion. The nerve is responsible for certain sensory functions and motor functions in the body.

Function

The pneumogastric nerve supplies motor parasympathetic fibers to all the organs except the adrenal glands, from the neck down to the second segment of the transverse colon. It also controls a few skeletal muscles, including:

• Levator veli palatini
• Salpingopharyngeus
• Palatoglossus
• Palatopharyngeus
• Superior, middle and inferior pharyngeal constrictors
• Muscles of the larynx

Clinical significance

Damage to the pneumogastric nerve can result in a variety of symptoms, depending on where the damage occurs. This can include difficulty speaking or swallowing, loss of gag reflex, and disturbances in gastric secretion, among others.

See also

• Cranial nerves
• Parasympathetic nervous system
• Autonomic nervous system