Dorsal nucleus of vagus nerve

{{Short description|Neuron cluster in the brainstem}}

{{Infobox brain

| Name = Dorsal nucleus of vagus nerve

| Latin = nucleus posterior nervi vagi, nucleus dorsalis nervi vagi

| Image = Gray697.png

| Caption = Nuclei of origin of cranial motor nerves schematically represented; lateral view. ("X" visible at bottom center.)

| Image2 = Gray700.png

| Caption2 = #9 is vagus nerve and nucleus

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The dorsal nucleus of vagus nerve (or posterior nucleus of vagus nerve or dorsal vagal nucleus or nucleus dorsalis nervi vagi or nucleus posterior nervi vagi){{Cite book|title=Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary|publisher=Elsevier|year=2012|isbn=978-1-4160-6257-8|pages=1300}} is a cranial nerve nucleus of the vagus nerve (CN X) situated in the medulla oblongata of the brainstem ventral to the floor of the fourth ventricle. It contains nerve cell bodies of parasympathetic neurons of CN X that provide parasympathetic innervation to the gastrointestinal tract and lungs as well as other thoracic and abdominal organs. These functions include, among others, bronchoconstriction and gland secretion.{{Cite book|author1=Patestas, Maria Antoniou |author2=Gartner, Leslie P. |name-list-style=amp |title=A textbook of neuroanatomy|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|year=2006|isbn=978-1-4051-0340-4|page=11|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JEEnkNuuYkoC&pg=PA11}}{{Check source|date=August 2023}}

Cell bodies of pre-ganglionic parasympathetic neurons of CN X that innervate the heart meanwhile reside in the nucleus ambiguus, and additional cell bodies of the nucleus ambiguus give rise to the branchial efferent motor fibers of the vagus nerve (CN X) terminating in the laryngeal, and pharyngeal muscles, and musculus uvulae muscle.