vagus nerve

noun

va·​gus nerve ˈvā-gəs- 

: 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

Examples of vagus nerve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For reasons physicians still don’t entirely understand, employing neuromodulation by stimulating the vagus nerve through electric signals appears to rapidly increase the rate at which the brain learns new tasks. —Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2025

Back in 1997, the company received FDA approval for the first version of the product, an open-loop vagus nerve stimulator (VNS). —Tim Denison, IEEE Spectrum, 27 Jan. 2015

Those building this medical-consumer bridge might borrow notes from the long evolution underway in vagus nerve stimulation. —Naveen Rao, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025

This happens because rectal manipulation can stimulate the vagus nerve, which can slow down your heart rate too much. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 16 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for vagus nerve

• conserve
• deserve
• manoeuvre
• observe
• preserve
• reserve
• subserve
• curve
• mirv
• serve
• swerve
• verve

Medical Definition

vagus nerve

noun

: 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