Vagus

Vagus nerve

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.

Anatomy

The vagus nerve includes both afferent and efferent fibers. The afferent fibers send information to the brain from the body's organs, while the efferent fibers send information from the brain to the body's tissues.

Function

The vagus 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, notably:

• Levator veli palatini
• Salpingopharyngeus
• Palatoglossus
• Palatopharyngeus
• Superior, middle and inferior pharyngeal constrictors
• Muscle of the larynx (excluding the cricothyroid muscle)

Clinical significance

Damage to the vagus nerve can result in a loss of parasympathetic function in the body. This can lead to symptoms such as gastrointestinal problems, heart problems, and voice changes.

See also

• Vagus nerve stimulation
• Vagus nerve blockade
• Vagus nerve disorders

References

Vagus Resources
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