What does "vagus nerve" mean?

Either of the tenth pair of cranial nerves which extend from the medulla oblongata down into the abdomen. Branches of these important nerves supply the tongue, larynx, lungs, gut, and heart.

Vagus nerve

Q: What is a synonym for "vagus nerve"?

Common synonyms include: nervus vagus, pneumogastric, pneumogastric nerve, tenth cranial nerve, vagus, wandering nerve.

noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1
Either of the tenth pair of cranial nerves which extend from the medulla oblongata down into the abdomen. Branches of these important nerves supply the tongue, larynx, lungs, gut, and heart.
2
a mixed nerve that supplies the pharynx and larynx and lungs and heart and esophagus and stomach and most of the abdominal viscera wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

nervus vagus pneumogastric pneumogastric nerve tenth cranial nerve vagus wandering nerve

Etymology

Partial calque of New Latin nervus vagus (literally “wandering nerve”).

Next best steps

Browse writing guides Explore topic clusters