vagal

adjective

va·​gal ˈvā-gəl How to pronounce vagal (audio)
: of, relating to, mediated by, or being the vagus nerve
vagally adverb

Examples of vagal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In extreme cases, vagal tampering can lead to sudden death. Shi En Kim, Scientific American, 28 Dec. 2023 After the initial infection waned, a large percentage those experiencing long COVID still reported symptoms typically seen with vagal dysfunction. Shi En Kim, Scientific American, 28 Dec. 2023 This would mean that the vagal nerves’ calming action is getting delayed—so the panic, heart palpitations and constant anxiety many people have described to me make sense. Emily Mendenhall, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2023 Instances of ‘low vagal tone’ (a condition when the vagus nerve is not firing well) are associated with slower physical and emotional recovery after periods of prolonged stress. Mark Travers, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2023 Based on human experiments, Holst hypothesized that GLP-1 caused slower emptying of the stomach, which sent a signal through the vagal nerve signifying fullness. Megan Molteni and Elaine Chen, STAT, 30 Sep. 2023 This leads to an increase in vagal activity, which relates to a decrease in heart rate, blood pressure, and the stress hormone cortisol, per Field. Jessica Migala, Women's Health, 14 Aug. 2023 Except the dorsal vagal complex hasn’t actually been proved to exist in humans. Kristen Martin, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2023 For instance, research published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine found that massaging the reflex areas in our feet and hands, also known as ‘reflexology,’ can increase vagal tone and, in turn, decrease blood pressure and heart rate levels. Mark Travers, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vagal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vagal was in 1854

Dictionary Entries Near vagal

Cite this Entry

“Vagal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vagal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

vagal

adjective
va·​gal ˈvā-gəl How to pronounce vagal (audio)
: of, relating to, mediated by, or being the vagus nerve
vagal stimulation
vagally adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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