vagus nerve (thoracic branches, anatomy)

Last reviewed 01/2018

The vagal nerves within the thorax give off the following branches:

  • fine inferior cardiac nerves to the cardiac plexuses
  • branches to the pulmonary plexuses
  • branches to the oesophageal plexuses
  • recurrent laryngeal nerves
  • vagal trunks to the abdomen, formed from the oesophageal plexuses