vagus nerve
noun
va·gus nerve
| \ ˈvā-gəs-
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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
Examples of vagus nerve in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This reflex is named after the vagus nerve, which runs from your brain to your heart, lungs and digestive tract. — Anne R. Crecelius, The Conversation, "Why do people faint?," 20 June 2019 Interestingly, though, the vagus nerve branches out all over the body and passes directly by the cervix, Dr. Streicher says. — Sarah Jacoby, SELF, "Kristen Bell Fainted While Trying to Remove a Menstrual Cup," 1 Nov. 2018 Death would likely come from pressure applied to the neck and cut off circulation of nerves, particularly the vagus nerve, which is the tenth cranial nerve and longest nerve in the body, Wecht said. — Morgan Hines, USA TODAY, "What can a tiny bone tell us about Jeffrey Epstein's death?," 10 Aug. 2019 The vagus nerve’s job is to regulate your parasympathetic nervous system. — Anne R. Crecelius, The Conversation, "Why do people faint?," 20 June 2019 For example, in the heart, the vagus nerve releases a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. — Anne R. Crecelius, The Conversation, "Why do people faint?," 20 June 2019 The vagus nerve, in turn, uses those signals to slow down the nervous system, lowering heart rate and blood pressure and curbing the activity of the stress hormone cortisol, an immune-system suppressant. — Cari Romm, The Cut, "The Lasting Damage of Depriving a Child of Human Touch," 20 June 2018 And the practice stimulates the vagus nerve, which helps regulate mood. — Sarah Richards, Woman's Day, "Quiet Your Mind in Anxious Times With These Expert Tricks," 14 Aug. 2018 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 2018These 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.
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