The dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus is the main source of parasympathetic fibres in the vagus nerve. It lies under the vagal triangle in the floor of the fourth ventricle and controls glands and smooth muscle of the gut and airways, along with some input to the heart.
| Location | Dorsal medulla beneath the vagal trigone of the fourth ventricle floor, lateral to the hypoglossal nucleus and medial to the solitary nucleus |
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| Parts |
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| Connections |
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| Blood Supply | Vertebral artery branches; Posterior inferior cerebellar artery |
Stimulates gastrointestinal secretion and motility and airway smooth muscle, contributing to the rest and digest state.
The dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus is one of the first places where alpha-synuclein pathology appears in Parkinson disease, which may explain why constipation can precede movement symptoms by years. It is also part of the circuit that coordinates nausea and vomiting with the area postrema.
Early autonomic gut symptoms linked to alpha-synuclein deposition in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus before motor signs appear.
Delayed stomach emptying from damage to vagal parasympathetic pathways, causing nausea, fullness and vomiting.
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