where is the vagus nerve and what does it do?
The vagus nerve is known as the wandering nerve because it has multiple branches that diverge from two thick stems rooted in the cerebellum and brainstem that wander to the lowest viscera of your abdomen touching your heart and most major organs along the way. Vagus means wandering in Latin.
Some of the main functions of the Vagus Nerve include, 1  Breathing. 2  Speech. 3  Sweating. Helping in keeping the larynx open during breathing.  Monitoring and regulating the 1  heartbeat. Informing the brain of the food that is ingested and food that has been digested.  The Vagus Nerve performs the major function of emptying the gastric region of food.