Intra-abdominal vagus nerve trunks

The intra-abdominal vagus nerve trunks, located near the gastroesophageal junction, are the primary conduits for parasympathetic innervation to the upper gastrointestinal tract. These trunks, consisting of the anterior and posterior branches, regulate critical processes such as gastric acid secretion from parietal cells and the coordination of gastric motility (StatPearls, 2023). Historically, they were the central target for surgical vagotomy procedures aimed at treating peptic ulcer disease by reducing acid production. In modern clinical practice, these nerves are targeted by neuromodulation technologies, such as vagal blocking therapy (vBloc), which uses high-frequency electrical stimulation to treat obesity by inhibiting hunger signals and promoting early satiety (PubMed, 2015). While not a single molecule, the trunks contain numerous cholinergic fibers that can be influenced by pharmacological agents like atropine or botulinum toxin. Therapeutic manipulation of these trunks requires careful consideration of side effects such as gastroparesis or dumping syndrome, which result from altered gastric emptying dynamics. Additionally, the abdominal vagus plays a role in the gut-brain axis, transmitting sensory information regarding nutrient sensing to the central nervous system (Wikipedia, 2024).

Other names

Anterior vagal trunkPosterior vagal trunkAbdominal vagus nerveVagal trunks at the gastroesophageal junctionGastric nerves of Latarjet

Modulation of parasympathetic outflow to the gastrointestinal tract via surgical resection, electrical blockade, or pharmacological inhibition of cholinergic transmission.