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

Noun Inflected Forms

• vagus nerves
  plural

Etymology

Origin of vagus nerve

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vagus nerve

Approaches that stimulate the vagus nerve or improve gut health might eventually be investigated as ways to support memory and preserve cognitive function.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026

Or a vagus nerve stimulator from Truvaga for $499.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

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

The device sends carefully controlled electrical signals to the left vagus nerve -- a key communication pathway between the brain and many internal organs.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 20, 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