Question

1. Write a paragraph of 3-5 sentences describing 1) whether the statement is correct or incorrect and 2) the reasoning for your answer. Your answer should demonstrate your understanding of the physiological concepts underlying the statement and be written professionally An injury to the vagal nerve will cause heart rate to decrease

Answer 1

In totally, we have 12 cranial nerves in the human body. They come in pairs and link the brain with other body parts like head , neck etc.

Function: Some send sensory information to the brain (Ex: smell, sight, taste etc.). Some have motor functions. Some have either sensory or motor function and some have both.

Vagus nerve, also known as cranial nerve X is the longest cranial nerve. It runs from brain stem to part of the colon.

The functions of the vagus nerve include:

• providing somatic sensation information for the skin behind the ear, the external part of the ear canal, and certain parts of the throat
• supplying visceral sensation information for the larynx, esophagus, lungs, trachea, heart, and most of the digestive tract
• playing a small role in the sensation of taste near the root of the tongue

• stimulating muscles in the pharynx, larynx, and the soft palate, which is the fleshy area near the back of the roof of the mouth
• stimulating muscles in the heart, where it helps to lower resting heart rate
• stimulating involuntary contractions in the digestive tract, including the esophagus, stomach, and most of the intestines, which allow food to move through the tract

Damage to the vagus nerve can have a range of symptoms because the nerve is so long and affects many areas.

Potential symptoms of damage to the vagus nerve include:

• difficulty speaking or loss of voice
• a voice that is hoarse or wheezy
• trouble drinking liquids
• loss of the gag reflex
• pain in the ear
• unusual heart rate
• abnormal blood pressure
• decreased production of stomach acid
• nausea or vomiting

The symptoms someone might have depend on what part of the nerve is damaged.

a) Hence the statement is incorrect

b) The function of vagus nerve is to stimulate muscles in the heart, where it helps to lower resting heart rate. Thus, a nerve damage would lead to unusual heart rate.