vagus

[ vey-guhs ]

noun

, plural va·gi [vey, -jahy, -gahy].

1. vagus nerve.

vagus

/ ˈveɪɡəs /

noun

1. the tenth cranial nerve, which supplies the heart, lungs, and viscera

Word History and Origins

Origin of vagus¹

1830–40; < Latin: wandering

Word History and Origins

Origin of vagus¹

C19: from Latin vagus wandering

Example Sentences

For animals where the vagus nerve was cut, microbiome-mediated effects on their behavior disappeared.

From Time

These neurotransmitters might interact with the nerve endings of the vagus nerve—which is responsible for involuntary movements such as breathing and digestion, and connects the brain to most of the body’s organs, including the gut.

From Time

As activity in the vagus—also known as vagal tone—increases, a person’s heart rate and respiration slow.

From Nautilus

A vagus nerve stimulator, for example, uses a permanent pacemaker-like generator to send gentle jolts through a flexible wire to a section of nerve in the neck.

From Nautilus

In 1871, Neftel relieved a case of hay asthma by galvanizing the vagus; but recent books know nothing of it.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus the study of their development strongly supports Gegenbaur's view of the nature of the vagus and glosso-pharyngeal, viz.

From Project Gutenberg

There is no sign that these are otherwise than perfectly normal branches of the vagus.

From Project Gutenberg

The outgrowth of the vagus and glosso-pharyngeal nerves is not continuous with that of the seventh nerve.

From Project Gutenberg

It is of importance as shewing the similarity of the branches of the vagus to the dorsal roots of the spinal nerves.

From Project Gutenberg