vagus

American  

[vey-guhs] / ˈveɪ gəs /

noun

plural

vagi

1. vagus nerve.

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vagus British  

/ ˈveɪɡəs /

noun

1. the tenth cranial nerve, which supplies the heart, lungs, and viscera

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Etymology

Origin of vagus

1830–40; < Latin: wandering

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

Unlike earlier versions of vagus nerve stimulation, which required surgery to implant a device, this treatment is non-invasive and can be used at home.

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

A key contribution also came from the Biorobotics Institute, led by Professor Silvestro Micera, which developed the bioabsorbable nerve conduit used to support regeneration of the vagus nerve.

From Science Daily • Jan. 1, 2026

“There’s no automatic cut-in of the vagus nerve,” Phil Resch said, “in an android. As there is in a human. Weren’t you taught that when they trained you? I got taught that years ago.”

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