Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to the vagus nerve: Pertaining to, affecting, or originating from the vagus nerve, which is the tenth cranial nerve responsible for parasympathetic control of the heart, lungs, and digestive tract.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The patient exhibited a strong vagal response during the procedure.
  • Vagal tone is an important indicator of autonomic nervous system health.
  • The surgeon carefully avoided the vagal fibers.

Advanced Usage

• "Vagal stimulation": The deliberate activation of the vagus nerve, often for therapeutic purposes such as treating epilepsy or depression.
  • Vagal stimulation can help regulate heart rate.
• "Vagal maneuver": A physical action intended to stimulate the vagus nerve to slow the heart rate, often used to treat certain types of tachycardia.
  • The doctor instructed the patient in a vagal maneuver to try and stop the rapid heartbeat.

Variants and Related Words

• Vagus (noun): The full name of the nerve (the vagus nerve).
  • The vagus is the longest cranial nerve.
• Vagotomy (noun): A surgical procedure involving the cutting of parts of the vagus nerve.
  • A vagotomy was once a common treatment for ulcers.

Synonyms

• Parasympathetic (adj): Pertaining to the part of the autonomic nervous system, often associated with vagal activity for "rest and digest" functions. (Note: This is a broader term; "vagal" is more specific to the nerve itself.)

Related Phrases

• Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS): A specific therapeutic technique.
  • Vagal nerve stimulation is a treatment option for drug-resistant epilepsy.
• Vagal escape: A physiological phenomenon where the heart resumes beating after vagal stimulation has stopped it.
  • Vagal escape prevented cardiac arrest in the experiment.

Adjective

1. of or relating to the vagus nerve