<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The vagus nerve (/ ˈveɪɡəs / VAY - gəs), historically cited as the pneumogastric nerve, is the tenth cranial nerve or CN X, and interfaces with parasympathetic control of the heart, lungs, and digestive tract . The vagus nerves are paired, however they are normally referred to in the singular . It is the longest nerve of the autonomic nervous system in the human body . The vagus nerve also has a sympathetic function via the peripheral chemoreceptors . </P> <P> Upon leaving the medulla oblongata between the pyramid and the inferior cerebellar peduncle, the vagus nerve extends through the jugular foramen, then passes into the carotid sheath between the internal carotid artery and the internal jugular vein down to the neck, chest, and abdomen, where it contributes to the innervation of the viscera, reaching all the way to the colon . Besides giving some output to various organs, the vagus nerve comprises between 80% and 90% of afferent nerves mostly conveying sensory information about the state of the body's organs to the central nervous system . The right and left vagus nerves descend from the cranial vault through the jugular foramina, penetrating the carotid sheath between the internal and external carotid arteries, then passing posterolateral to the common carotid artery . The cell bodies of visceral afferent fibers of the vagus nerve are located bilaterally in the inferior ganglion of the vagus nerve (nodose ganglia). </P> <P> The right vagus nerve gives rise to the right recurrent laryngeal nerve, which hooks around the right subclavian artery and ascends into the neck between the trachea and esophagus . The right vagus then crosses anterior to the right subclavian artery, runs posterior to the superior vena cava, descends posterior to the right main bronchus, and contributes to cardiac, pulmonary, and esophageal plexuses . It forms the posterior vagal trunk at the lower part of the esophagus and enters the diaphragm through the esophageal hiatus . </P>

Where does the vagus nerve enter the abdomen