The vagus nerve is the tenth cranial nerve (CN X) and is the longest mixed cranial nerve. Although we refer to the vagus nerve as singular, it's actually a pair of nerves that emerge from the left and right side of the medulla oblongata portion of the brain stem.
The vagus (vagal) nerve is also known as the 10th cranial nerve or cranial nerve X. It starts in your medulla oblongata, a part of the brain that connects to the spinal cord, and splits off into many branches that extend down through your neck to your vital abdominal organs.
vagus nerve, also called X cranial nerve or 10th cranial nerve, longest and most complex of the cranial nerves. The vagus nerve runs from the brain through the face and thorax to the abdomen.
If the vagus nerve becomes damaged by physical trauma or the growth of a tumor, it may cause digestive symptoms, or hoarseness, paralysis of the vocal cords and slowed heart rate.
What Triggers the Vagal Response? The vagal response (vasovagal reflex) is when stimulation of the vagus nerve causes symptoms such as lightheadedness, sweating, and blurred vision. This can happen because of stress, pain, heat, having a bowel movement, or even standing too long.
There are two main causes of vagus nerve dysfunction: previous infection or inflammation and physical or psychological stress.
At UCSF Health, our neurologists and neurosurgeons have expertise in implanting vagal nerve stimulators to treat seizures caused by diseases such as epilepsy.
Damage to the vagus nerve is usually caused by trauma, surgery, or disease. In some cases, it may be possible to repair the damage. However, in other cases, the damage may be permanent.
Loud gargling with water or loud singing activates our vocal cords which in turn stimulates the vagus nerve. Foot massage: gentle or firm touch can assist in stimulation the vagus nerve. Cold water face immersion: immerse your forehead eyes and at least 2/3 of both cheeks into cold water.
In Chinese medicine, different parts of our body correlate with different specific reflexology or pressure points. The vagus nerve point for your hand is right inside of the pinky, for example. This is great because it's so accessible during the course of your day.
Based on research results and clinical experience, cervical region tightness can be considered to cause stomach problems through the vagal nerve, and soft tissue relaxation of the cervical region can be a promising treatment method for stomach symptoms.
Your vagus nerve helps disengage your sympathetic nervous system — your fight-or-flight response. “When you're stressed or scared, your heart rate and blood pressure increase, and you become focused on survival,” Dr. Lin explains. “Being in that stressful 'fight-or-flight' state can wear out your body.
Eat foods rich in tryptophan.
Dietary tryptophan is metabolized in the gut and may help the astrocytes—cells in the brain and spinal cord—control inflammation, which may improve communication from the gut to the brain via the vagal messenger pathway. These foods include spinach, seeds, nuts, bananas, and poultry.
Acupuncture can be a safe and effective way to stimulate the vagus nerve and promote its function. Studies have shown that acupuncture can reduce inflammation, improve heart rate variability, and regulate autonomic function, all of which are related to vagus nerve function.
CT scan or MRI cannot show the vagus nerve.
The primary sign of a vagal schwannoma is neck swelling or a slow-growing neck mass that is typically painless and firm. Masses usually grow slow at a rate of approximately 2.5 millimeters to 3 millimeters per year.
While doctors usually discuss the vagus nerve in the singular sense, there are two vagus nerves, one on each side of the neck and in combination, they are referred to as the vagal nerves. This means that the degenerative damage in your neck can significantly impact the function of one or both vagus nerves.
Trauma disrupts the function of the vagus nerve(s) and can lead to dysfunction in other parts of our body.
The vagus nerve is the body's superpower and it's used to counteract your fight/flight system. It's how you develop a healthy stress response and become resilient. When stimulated, you feel calmer, more compassionate, and clearer. Stimulating the vagus benefits your autonomic nervous system and mental health.
Diaphragmatic breathing will activate your vagus nerve and engage your parasympathetic nervous system. Additionally, it has been shown to improve gut motility (the speed at which your gut works).