Introduction –  

What is the vagus nerve? It is one of the 12 cranial nerves in the human body, and one of the most important things to know is that it is responsible for various bodily functions, including breathing, heart rate, and digestion. There are a total of 12 cranial nerves in the human body, and what is the vagus nerve? It is a type of nerve that comes in pairs and connects the brain to different parts of the body, including the torso, neck, and head. Some of these nerves send sensory information, such as smells, tastes, sights, and sounds, to the brain, playing a sensory role. Meanwhile, other cranial nerves control the movement of certain muscles and the function of specific glands, which are known as motor functions.

Sensory & Motor Functions & Vagus Nerve Affect – 

The cranial nerves or some nerves have either motor or sensory functions – whereas others have both. The vagus nerve is such a nerve. Moreover, the cranial nerve is defined using roman numerals based on their location in the human body. The vagus nerve is also known as the cranial nerve X, which is located in the 10th portion of the human body. Besides all of that, the vagus nerve also known as the pneumogastric nerve, and it is liable for different internal organ workings which also includes digestion, heart rate, breathing, cardiovascular activity, and includes reflex actions like vomiting, swallowing, sneezing, coughing. Besides all of that, it plays an important role in the autonomic nervous system, which manages the actions humans do unconsciously, like digestion and breathing. 

Link Between Brain & Gut – Vagus Nerve Anatomy – 

Besides all of that, vagus nerve also makes or creates a connection between brain and the gut, playing an important role in what the scientist calls it as, brain-gut-axis. In the recent years, scientists and experts have been studying this axis and looking for connections between conditions like depression and obesity. The word, ‘vagus’ is a Latin word, which means, ‘wandering’. This is a very apt name, as the vagus nerve is the cranial nerve which is the longest. It starts from brain stem to the part of the colon or till the colon. Besides all of that, the vagus nerve sensory functions are separated into 2 main components. They are somatic components and visceral components. Somatic components are sensations that is felt on the muscles and skin. Whereas, visceral components are sensations felt in the body parts or organs.