The vagus nerve, historically cited as the pneumogastric nerve, is the tenth cranial nerve or CN X, and interfaces with the parasympathetic control of the heart, lungs, and digestive tract. It actually comprises two nerves—the left and right vagus nerves—but they are typically referred to collectively in the singular. The vagus is the longest nerve of the autonomic nervous system in the human body and comprises sensory and motor fibers. The sensory fibers originate from neurons of the nodose ganglion, whereas the motor fibers come from neurons of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus and the nucleus ambiguus.
The parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) is one of the three divisions of the autonomic nervous system, the others being the sympathetic nervous system and the enteric nervous system. The enteric nervous system is sometimes considered part of the autonomic nervous system, and sometimes considered an independent system.
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a medical treatment that involves delivering electrical impulses to the vagus nerve. It is used as an add-on treatment for certain types of intractable epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression. Frequent side effects include coughing and shortness of breath. Serious side effects may include trouble talking and cardiac arrest.
The auricular branch of the vagus nerve is often termed the Alderman's nerve or Arnold's nerve. The latter name is an eponym for Friedrich Arnold. The auricular branch of the vagus nerve supplies sensory innervation to the skin of the ear canal, tragus, and auricle.
The superior ganglion of the vagus nerve, (jugular ganglion) is a sensory ganglion of the peripheral nervous system. It is located within the jugular foramen, where the vagus nerve exits the skull. It is smaller than and proximal to the inferior ganglion of the vagus nerve.
The inferior ganglion of the vagus nerve, (nodose ganglion) is a sensory ganglion of the peripheral nervous system. It is located within the jugular foramen where the vagus nerve exits the skull. It is larger than and below the superior ganglion of the vagus nerve.
The dorsal nucleus of vagus nerve is a cranial nerve nucleus for the vagus nerve in the medulla that lies ventral to the floor of the fourth ventricle. It mostly serves parasympathetic vagal functions in the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and other thoracic and abdominal vagal innervations. These functions include, among others, bronchoconstriction and gland secretion. The cell bodies for the preganglionic parasympathetic vagal neurons that innervate the heart reside in the nucleus ambiguus.
The posterior vagal trunk is a branch of the vagus nerve which contributes to the esophageal plexus. It consists primarily of fibers from the right vagus, but also contains a few fibers from the left vagus.
The pharyngeal plexus is a network of nerve fibers innervating most of the palate and pharynx.
Monochamus is a genus of longhorn beetles found throughout the world. They are commonly known as sawyer beetles or sawyers, as their larvae bore into dead or dying trees, especially conifers such as pines. They are the type genus of the Monochamini, a tribe in the huge long-horned beetle subfamily Lamiinae, but typically included in the Lamiini today.
The cranial root of accessory nerve is the smaller of the two portions of the accessory nerve. It is generally considered as a part of the vagus nerve and not part of the accessory nerve proper because the cranial component rapidly joins the vagus nerve and serves the same function as other vagal nerve fibers. Recently, the concept of a cranial root of the accessory nerve has been challenged by new neuroanatomical studies which found that an unambiguous cranial root was not present in the majority of the cases. However, a small study in 2007 followed by a substantially larger study published in 2012 both confirmed that the cranial root of the accessory nerve is commonly found in humans, matching traditional descriptions.
The cardiac branches of the vagus nerve are two sets of nerves found in the upper torso, in close proximity to the larynx. The specific branches are the inferior cardiac branches of the vagus nerve and the Superior cervical cardiac branches of vagus nerve.
Monochamus dubius is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by Charles Joseph Gahan in 1894. It is known from India, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Taiwan, and China.
Monochamus subfasciatus is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by Henry Walter Bates in 1873. It is recorded from Japan where it infests Japanese red pine and is a vector of the nematode Bursaphelenchus doui.
Monochamus adamitus is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by James Thomson in 1857. It is known from Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Angola, Ghana, Mozambique, the Ivory Coast, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.
Monochamus sutor is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, originally under the genus Cerambyx. It has a wide, natural distribution throughout Europe, and has also been introduced into Belgium and the Netherlands. Adults measure between 15 to 24 mm, and larvae measure up to 45 mm (1.8 in).
Monochamus clamator, the spotted pine sawyer, is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1852.
Monochamus galloprovincialis, the pine sawyer beetle, also referred to as the black pine sawyer beetle, is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by Olivier in 1795, originally under the genus Cerambyx. It has a wide distribution, occurring naturally throughout Europe and the Caucasus. It has also been introduced into the Canary Islands. It serves as a vector for the parasitic nematode species Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, and also acts as a host to the parasitoid wasp species Dolichomitus tuberculatus.
Monochamus maculosus, the spotted pine sawyer, is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It is known from Canada and the United States, and was formerly known as Monochamus mutator.
Monochamus sartor is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1787, originally under the genus Lamia. It is known from throughout Europe, as well as in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, North Korea and South Korea. It is rated by the IUCN as Least Concern.
