Neuroanatomy

1. Vagus nerve
Domina Petric, MD

2. Vagus nerve is:

3. Vagus nerve nuclei:
• nucleus ambiguus (special visceral
efferent fibres)
• nucleus posterior nervi vagi (general
visceral efferent fibres, the largest
parasympathetic nucleus in the
brainstem)
• nucleus solitarius (general and special
visceral afferent fibres)
• nucleus spinalis n. trigemini (general
somatic afferent fibres)

4. Vagus nerve has two ganglia
Ganglion superius (in
the jugular foramen,
also called jugular
ganglion):
Ganglion inferius (below
the jugular foramen,
also called nodous
ganglion):
-bodies of general
somatic afferent
neurons
-sensation from part of
the earlobe, external ear
canal and tympanic
cavity
-bodies of general and
special visceral afferent
neurons
-sensation from carotid
body and from thorasic
and abdominal cavity
-sensation of taste from
the basis of tongue and
epiglottis

5. Wikipedia

6. Vagus nerve branches
 n. laryngeus
recurrens
dexter et
sinister
 truncus
vagalis
anterior et
posterior
Image source: www.ghorayeb.com

7. Vagus nerve branches in the area of
head:
r. meningeus innervates dura mater of
posterior cranial fossa
r. auricularis (general somatic afferent fibres)
innervates the skin of lower and posterior part
of ear canal, earlobe and eardrum, makes
anastomosis with facial nerve

8. Vagus nerve branches in the area of the
neck:
• r. communicans cum nervo
glossopharyngeo (sympathetic fibres
for carotid body)
• r. pharyngeus carries motoric, sensory
and parasympathetic fibres for plexus
pharyngeus (innervation of pharyngeal
muscles, mucosa and glands)

9. Vagus nerve branches in the area of the
neck:
N. laryngeus superior:
• r. externus (motoric fibres from nucleus
ambiguus) innervates cricothyroid muscle
• r. internus (general visceral afferent fibres
go into nucleus solitarius) innervates
laryngeal mucosa
• r. communicans cum n. laryngeo recurrente
is anastomosis of r. internus with sensory
fibres of n. laryngeus recurrens

10. Vagus nerve branches in the area of the
neck:

11. Vagus nerve branches in the area of the
neck:
N. laryngeus recurrens:
• mostly motor branch
• motor, sensory and parasympathetic fibres
Motor fibres come from XI. cranial nerve
for innervation of laryngeal
muscles
Parasympathetic
fibres
come from nucleus dorsalis
nervi vagi: rr. tracheales., rr.
esophagei, rr. pharyngei
Sensory fibres go into nucleus solitarius

12. Vagus nerve branches in the area of
thorasic cavity:
rr. cardiaci thoracici:
plexus cardiacus
rr. bronchiales: plexus
pulmonalis, plexus
oesophageus (partially)

13. Abdominal cavitiy:

14. Vagus nerve branches in the abdominal
cavity:
• rr. gastrici anteriores et posteriores: plexus
gastricus
• rr. coeliaci (ganglia coeliaca, ganglion
mesentericum superius): activation of
parasympathetic fibres results with
acceleration of gastric and intestinal
peristalsis
• rr. hepatici (parasympathetic fibres for liver
and pylorus, r. pyloricus)
• rr. renales (for kidneys)

15. Literature:
• Wikipedia.com
• Ghorayeb.com
• Krmpotić-Nemanić J. Marušić A. Anatomija čovjeka,
Medicinska naklada, Zagreb, 2007.