vagus nerve

noun va·gus nerve \ ˈvā-gəs- \

|Updated on: 11 Jul 2018

Definition of vagus nerve

: either of the 10th pair of cranial nerves that arise from the medulla oblongata and supply chiefly the viscera especially with autonomic sensory and motor fibers — called also vagus

Recent Examples of vagus nerve from the Web

Along with a heavy drug combination, William got a vagus nerve stimulator, an implant that sends electrical signals to the brain.

— anne saker, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati tested the marijuana drug that the FDA has just approved," 27 June 2018
Treatment for epilepsy is usually tailored to each individual patient and may include medication, surgery, stimulation of the vagus nerve, and changes in nutrition.

— korin miller, SELF, "Why Movie Theaters Are Posting Warnings About All of the Strobe Lights in 'Incredibles 2'," 22 June 2018
Here’s how the calming power of touch works on a physiological level: Touch stimulates pressure receptors under the skin that carry signals to the vagus nerve, which connects the brain to the rest of the body.

— cari romm, The Cut, "The Lasting Damage of Depriving a Child of Human Touch," 20 June 2018
For example, being able to work with nerves in the bladder or the pancreas or vagus nerve could have a lot of interesting therapeutic benefits — almost like acupuncture.

— angela chen, The Verge, "Why it’s so hard to develop the right material for brain implants," 30 May 2018
Some studies propose that aggregates of alpha synuclein move from the intestines to the brain through the vagus nerve.

— diana kwon, Scientific American, "Does Parkinson’s Begin in the Gut?," 8 May 2018
For example, people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes might experience damage to their vagus nerves, which can influence how well their bodies regulate hiccups.

— claire gillespie, SELF, "Here's What Hiccups Actually Are—and How to Get Rid of Them," 4 May 2018
The vagus nerve goes down the neck and runs through the visceral organs.

— tim hornyak, Scientific American, "Could Future Nerve Implants Detect and Monitor Illness?," 10 May 2018
If hiccups are really interfering with your life, there are also battery-operated tools, implanted surgically, that can send mild electrical impulses to your vagus nerve.

— claire gillespie, SELF, "Here's What Hiccups Actually Are—and How to Get Rid of Them," 4 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vagus nerve.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of vagus nerve

borrowed from New Latin vagus nervus, literally, "wandering nerve,"; so called from its multiplicity of connecting points in the neck, thorax, and abdomen — more at vague

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1856

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

vagus nerve

noun

medical Definition of vagus nerve

: either of the tenth pair of cranial nerves that arise from the medulla and supply chiefly the viscera especially with autonomic sensory and motor fibers — called also pneumogastric nerve, tenth cranial nerve, vagus