Learning Modules - Medical Gross Anatomy
Autonomics of the Head and Neck - Page 13 of 14

    
The vagus story - look, ma - no ganglion.

The vagus carries preganglionic fibers everywhere it travels. In the head, it also delivers skeletal motor fibers to most of the soft palate (except tensor veli palatini muscle), most of the pharynx (except stylopharyngeus muscle), all of the larynx, and the upper esophagus (which is skeletal muscle). These skeletal motor fibers travel in the pharyngeal branches, external branches of superior laryngeal nerve, and the recurrent laryngeal nerves.

Preganglionic parasympathetic fibers accompany the branches of vagus, synapsing as always within the viscera wall, to innervate mucous glands in the lining of the structures innervated - pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. This is most of the mucous membranes in the head and neck, with the exception being the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, palate, and upper pharynx. This region is serviced by branches from the pterygopalatine ganglion.

In the neck, the vagus also gives off 2 cervical cardiac nerves that pass inferiorly into the chest, often uniting with the sympathetic cardiac branches on the way.

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