This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Vagus nerve (right, anatomy)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The right vagus nerve gives off similar branches to the left vagus within the neck and thorax. However, having passed from the skull through the carotid sheaths to the root of the neck, the paths of the two vagi then differ, largely as a result of the disposition of great vessels within the thorax.

The right vagus enters the thorax posterior to the right brachiocephalic trunk but anterior to the right subclavian artery. Near the anterior surface of the subclavian artery it gives off branches to the cardiac plexuses. At the lower margin of the right subclavian artery it gives off its right recurrent laryngeal branch. It then passes inferiorly and medially to the lateral surface of the trachea from where it descends posteriorly. It then ramifies into a number of branches which form the interconnected pulmonary and oesophageal plexuses.

The oesophageal plexuses converge at the lower ends of the oesophagus to form the pulmonary trunks. The right vagus nerve forms the bulk of the posterior trunk.


Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.