Chapter contents
Branchial motor
Visceral motor
Visceral sensory
General sensory| Cranial Nerve X - Vagus | Page 1 of 24 |
"Vagus" is from the Latin meaning wandering. This is a fitting name as the nerve wanders from the brainstem to the splenic flexure of the colon. The vagus nerve consists of five components with distinct functions:
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Brancial motor (special visceral efferent) |
Supplies the voluntary muscles of the pharynx and most of the larynx, as well as one extrinsic muscle of the tongue. |
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Visceral motor (general visceral efferent) |
Parasympathetic innervation of the smooth muscle and glands of the pharynx, larynx, and viscera of the thorax and abdomen. |
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Visceral sensory (general visceral afferent) |
Provides visceral sensory information from the larynx, esophagus, trachea, and abdominal and thoracic viscera, as well as the stretch receptors of the aortic arch and chemoreceptors of the aortic bodies . |
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General sensory (general somatic afferent) |
Provides general sensory information from the skin of the back of the ear and external auditory meatus, parts of the external surface of the tympanic membrane, and the pharynx. |
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Special sensory (special afferent) |
A very minor component of CN X. Provides taste sensation from the epiglottic region. This component will not be discussed further. |
Figure 10-1. Overview, components of the vagus nerve.
