vagus nerve

American  

noun

Anatomy.

vagus nerves plural

1. either one of the tenth pair of cranial nerves, consisting of motor fibers that innervate the muscles of the pharynx, larynx, heart, and thoracic and abdominal viscera, and of sensory fibers that conduct impulses from these structures to the brain.

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vagus nerve Scientific  

/ vā′gəs /

1. Either of the tenth pair of cranial nerves that carries motor impulses from the brain to many major organs. The vagus nerve controls the muscles of the larynx (voice box), stimulates digestion, and regulates the heartbeat.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• vagus nerves
  plural

Etymology

Origin of vagus nerve

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

GLP-1 receptors are expressed not just in the pancreas and stomach, but throughout the vagus nerve, the brain stem, and the hypothalamus.

From Slate • Mar. 22, 2026

Participants in the Triceps trial use a small electrical device that sits inside the ear and stimulates the vagus nerve - a major nerve connecting the brain and abdomen - while carrying out rehabilitation exercises.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

As we begin to understand the vital role our nervous system plays in our ability to manage to stress, there is a growing body of evidence that the vagus nerve might hold the key.

From BBC • Jan. 2, 2026

"Even partial restoration of the connection between the right vagus nerve and the heart is sufficient to counteract the mechanisms of remodelling and preserve effective cardiac contractility," adds Anar Dushpanova, cardiologist at TrancriLab.

From Science Daily • Jan. 1, 2026

“For a few seconds. Suspends its respiration; yours, too, but humans can function without respiring—perspiring?—for a couple of minutes, but the vagus nerve of an andy—”

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick