Knowra Vagus nerve Vagus nerve The vagus nerve is the tenth cranial nerve, carrying sensory and motor signals between the brainstem and organs including the heart, lungs, and digestive tract.
Nucleus ambiguus : A brainstem nucleus containing motor neurons that supply muscles of the palate, pharynx, and larynx through cranial nerves. Its vagal motor neurons help control swallowing, voice, and parasympathetic influence on the heart.
Cranial nerves : Twelve pairs of nerves that connect the brain, mainly the brainstem, with structures in the head and body. The vagus is cranial nerve X and extends farther through the body than the other cranial nerves.
Vagus nerve stimulation : A treatment that electrically stimulates the vagus nerve, usually through an implanted device in the neck. It targets vagal pathways to reduce seizures in some forms of epilepsy and treat selected other conditions.
Cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway : A neural pathway in which acetylcholine signaling can suppress production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Vagal signaling is proposed to help regulate inflammation through this pathway.
Dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus : A brainstem nucleus whose preganglionic neurons provide parasympathetic output to thoracic and abdominal organs. It supplies much of the vagus nerve’s outgoing autonomic traffic to the viscera.
Nodose ganglion : A sensory ganglion containing cell bodies of many visceral afferent neurons in the vagus nerve. It houses sensory neurons that carry information from organs toward the brainstem.
Epilepsy : A neurological disorder characterized by a lasting tendency to have recurrent, unprovoked seizures. Vagus nerve stimulation is an adjunctive treatment for some people whose seizures resist medication.
Neuroimmune interaction : Communication between the nervous system and the immune system through neural, endocrine, and molecular signals. The vagus nerve is one route by which neural activity can influence immune responses.
Nucleus of the solitary tract : A brainstem nucleus that receives and processes sensory input from cranial nerves, including visceral signals. It receives much of the vagus nerve’s sensory information from internal organs.
Jugular ganglion : A sensory ganglion of the vagus nerve located near the jugular foramen. It contains sensory neuron cell bodies associated particularly with vagal sensation from the head and neck.
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