Viva vagus: Wandering nerve could lead to range of therapies

Zapping the 10th cranial nerve may treat arthritis, heart failure, headaches and more

illustration of the vagus nerve

WHAT NERVE  The vagus nerve’s path from brain to heart and other organs was detailed by the Greek anatomist Galen, a leading physician of the Roman Empire in the second century.

Nicolle Rager Fuller

With outposts in nearly every organ and a direct line into the brain stem, the vagus nerve is the nervous system’s superhighway.