The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve, providing parasympathetic innervation to most thoracic and abdominal viscera and motor supply to the larynx and pharynx. The recurrent laryngeal nerve supplies all intrinsic laryngeal muscles except the cricothyroid and is at risk during thyroid, parathyroid, and oesophageal surgery. Vagal tone determines resting heart rate and variability.
| Origin | Lateral medulla (dorsal motor nucleus and nucleus ambiguus) |
|---|
Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) implant treats drug-resistant epilepsy and depression by delivering regular electrical pulses to the left cervical vagus. Right vagal stimulation is avoided because of the higher right vagal influence on cardiac conduction. Arnold's nerve (auricular branch) reflex — cough triggered by ear canal manipulation — is mediated by this vagal cutaneous branch.
Vagal RLN injury from thyroid surgery or mediastinal pathology producing unilateral vocal cord paralysis and hoarseness managed with injection laryngoplasty or thyroplasty.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
