What is the vagus nerve?
The vagus nerve is called the vagus nerve (tenth cranial nerve). Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes it as the tenth cranial nerve.
What it is
- The tenth cranial nerve.
- Its Latin name means 'wandering' — it has the longest course of any cranial nerve.
- Carries parasympathetic fibers to most of the organs of the chest and abdomen.
Where it is
- Arises from the medulla oblongata.
- Descends through the neck in the carotid sheath.
- Passes into the chest and abdomen, giving branches to the heart, lungs, stomach, and intestines.
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Last verified: 2026-07-18
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