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The vagus nerve (/ ˈ v eɪ. ɡ ə s /), also known as the tenth cranial nerve, cranial nerve X, or simply CN X, is a cranial nerve that carries sensory fibers that create a pathway that interfaces with the parasympathetic control of the heart, lungs, and digestive tract. [1]
Oct 6, 2024 · The vagus nerve runs from the brain through the face and thorax to the abdomen. It is a mixed nerve that contains parasympathetic fibers and has the most extensive distribution of the cranial nerves. Learn more about the vague nerve in this article.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
vagus nerve (vay-gŭs) n. the tenth cranial nerve (X), which supplies motor nerve fibres to the muscles of swallowing and parasympathetic fibres to the heart and organs of the chest cavity and abdomen. Sensory branches carry impulses from the viscera and the sensation of taste from the mouth.
Oct 30, 2023 · The vagus nerve is a mixed nerve, as it contains both afferent (sensory) and efferent (motor) fibers. This means it is responsible for not only carrying motor signals to the organs it innervates, but it also carries sensory information from these organs back to the central nervous system .
The vagus nerve is a sort of polymath of the parasympathetic nervous system, getting involved in everything from breathing, heart rate, swallowing, sneezing, digestion, appetite, immune responses and even orgasm. The vagus nerve’s wide-ranging skill set comes from having a diverse array of neuron cell types at its disposal.
1 day ago · The vagus nerve provides parasympathetic innervation to the majority of the abdominal organs. It sends branches to the oesophagus, stomach and most of the intestinal tract – up to the splenic flexure of the large colon.
Sep 23, 2023 · The vagus nerve, also known as the tenth cranial nerve (CN X), is one of the most complex and multifunctional nerves in the body. It is primarily a mixed nerve, meaning it contains both motor and sensory fibers, and has a significant role in the autonomic nervous system.
