vagus nerve
Brain-gut neural highway
The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve, running from the brainstem through the neck and chest to the abdomen.
It regulates heart rate, digestion, and other involuntary functions, forming a key pathway between brain and body.
The vagus nerve has gained popular attention for its role in stress response—stimulating it through breathing exercises or cold exposure supposedly promotes calm.
Nerve system promoting rest
- autonomicSelf-regulating without awareness
- homeostasisBiological internal stability maintenance
- acetylcholineNeurotransmitter for muscles and memory
- cholinergicAcetylcholine-mediated neural signaling
heart rate · digestion · respiration · bronchoconstriction · gastrointestinal · vasodilation · motility · salivation
Nerve originating in brainstem
- brainstemLower neural trunk
- medullaInnermost organ tissue
- parasympatheticNerve system promoting rest
- neuroanatomyStudy of nervous system structure
nuclei · myelinated · unmyelinated · cervical · thoracic · abdominal · bilateral
Conveying toward central point
- efferentConveying outward from center
- neurotransmitterSynaptic chemical messenger
- synapseNerve signal crossing point
- impulseSudden urge to act
innervation · neural pathway · sensory · motor · neuromodulation · feedback loop · mechanoreceptors · chemoreceptors
Brain disorder causing seizures
- depressionProlonged low state
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- implantDevice placed inside tissue
- cold exposureContact with low temperatures
deep breathing · heart rate variability · anti-inflammatory · neuromodulation · biofeedback · gargling · singing · diving reflex
parasympathetic
Nerve system promoting rest
- autonomicSelf-regulating without awareness
- homeostasisBiological internal stability maintenance
- acetylcholineNeurotransmitter for muscles and memory
cholinergic · heart rate · digestion · respiration · bronchoconstriction · gastrointestinal · vasodilation · motility · salivation · lacrimation
cranial nerve
Nerve originating in brainstem
- brainstemLower neural trunk
- medullaInnermost organ tissue
- parasympatheticNerve system promoting rest
neuroanatomy · nuclei · myelinated · unmyelinated · cervical · thoracic · abdominal · bilateral
afferent
Conveying toward central point
- efferentConveying outward from center
- neurotransmitterSynaptic chemical messenger
- synapseNerve signal crossing point
impulse · innervation · neural pathway · sensory · motor · neuromodulation · feedback loop · mechanoreceptors · chemoreceptors · baroreceptors
epilepsy
Brain disorder causing seizures
- depressionProlonged low state
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- implantDevice placed inside tissue
cold exposure · deep breathing · heart rate variability · anti-inflammatory · neuromodulation · biofeedback · gargling · singing · diving reflex
- nervous systembrain, neurons, nerves, spinal cord, axon
- holistic wellnessAyurveda, ayurveda, aromatherapy diffuser, acupressure, chakra
- nervesperipheral nerves, peripheral nerve, cranial nerves, cranial nerve, spinal nerves
- seizuresseizure, epileptic, convulsion, fit, attack
- thoraxthorax, chest, ribcage, chest cavity, chest wall
- autonomic systemsympathetic, parasympathetic, fight or flight, rest and digest, ganglia
vagus nervesympathetic nervous system
Autonomic division activating arousal