Vagus nerve (X)

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.