The Vagus Nerve

The vagus nerve is the tenth of the twelve brain nerves. The vagus nerve contributes to the feelings associated with infections such as appetite, fatigue and induction of disease behavior. It extends from the brainstem to the abdomen, with branches in the neck, thorax and abdomen 68. The vagus nerve is part of the autonomic nervous system, has efferent fibers, ascending signals from the brain to the peripheral organs, as well as afferent sensory fibers, and transmits information from the peripheral tissue to the brain. The ANS consists of three components: the sympathetic, noradrenergic and parasympathetic, cholinergic systems that occur in the CNS, with the cell body in the brainstem and spinal cord and ENS 68.

The vagus nerve is a part