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Branchial motor
Visceral motor
Visceral sensory
General sensory| Cranial Nerve X - Vagus | Page 16 of 24 |
Extra-Cranial Course and Final Innervations
Upon exiting the skull the vagus nerve travels between the internal jugular vein and internal carotid artery within the carotid sheath.
Preganglionic fibers to the secretomotor glands of the pharyngeal and laryngeal mucosa travel with the pharyngeal and internal laryngeal nerves discussed above.
Figure 10-16a. Extracranial course, visceral motor component.
Within the thorax the left and right vagus nerves break up into many branches to form plexuses around the esophagus and major blood vessels to the heart and lungs.
From the esophageal plexus, the left and right gastric nerves emerge and provide preganglionic parasympathetic innervation to the stomach.
Innervation to the intestines and visceral organs generally follow the arterial blood supply to that organ.
Figure 10-16b. Final innervation course, visceral motor component.
