Vagal trigone: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:59, 9 February 2025

Part of the brainstem associated with the vagus nerve

Vagal trigone

The vagal trigone is a small, triangular area located in the floor of the fourth ventricle of the brainstem. It is associated with the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X) and is part of the medulla oblongata.

Anatomy

The vagal trigone is situated in the caudal portion of the rhomboid fossa, which forms the floor of the fourth ventricle. It is located lateral to the hypoglossal trigone, which is associated with the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII). The vagal trigone overlies the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve, which is responsible for parasympathetic innervation to various organs.

Function

The dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve, located beneath the vagal trigone, plays a crucial role in autonomic control. It provides parasympathetic innervation to the heart, lungs, and digestive tract, influencing heart rate, respiratory rate, and gastrointestinal motility.

Clinical significance

Lesions affecting the vagal trigone or the underlying dorsal motor nucleus can lead to dysfunctions in the autonomic control of the organs innervated by the vagus nerve. This can result in symptoms such as bradycardia, dysphagia, and gastrointestinal disturbances.

Images

Diagram of the floor of the fourth ventricle. The vagal trigone is labeled at the lower right.

Related pages

References

Standring, S. (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 42nd edition. Elsevier.
Purves, D., Augustine, G. J., Fitzpatrick, D., et al. (2018). Neuroscience. 6th edition. Oxford University Press.

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-'''Vagal Trigone''' is a triangular area located in the dorsal aspect of the [[medulla oblongata]], a part of the [[brainstem]]. It is also known as the '''Ala Cinerea''' or the '''gray wing'''. The vagal trigone is named after the [[vagus nerve]], the tenth cranial nerve that it is associated with.
+{{Short description|Part of the brainstem associated with the vagus nerve}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
-==Etymology==
+==Vagal trigone==
-The term "vagal trigone" is derived from the Latin words "vagus" meaning "wandering" and "trigone" meaning "triangle". The term "Ala Cinerea" is derived from the Latin words "ala" meaning "wing" and "cinerea" meaning "gray".
+The '''vagal trigone''' is a small, triangular area located in the floor of the fourth ventricle of the brainstem. It is associated with the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X) and is part of the medulla oblongata.
 ==Anatomy==
-The vagal trigone is located in the [[fourth ventricle]] of the brain, on the floor known as the [[rhomboid fossa]]. It is situated between the [[facial colliculus]] and the [[hypoglossal trigone]]. The vagal trigone is associated with the [[dorsal nucleus of vagus nerve]], which is responsible for the unconscious body procedures like heart rate and digestion.
+The vagal trigone is situated in the caudal portion of the rhomboid fossa, which forms the floor of the fourth ventricle. It is located lateral to the [[hypoglossal trigone]], which is associated with the [[hypoglossal nerve]] (cranial nerve XII). The vagal trigone overlies the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve, which is responsible for parasympathetic innervation to various organs.
 ==Function==
-The vagal trigone is associated with the [[vagus nerve]], which plays a crucial role in the body's automatic control system. The vagus nerve is responsible for various tasks including heart rate, gastrointestinal peristalsis, sweating, and quite a few muscle movements in the mouth, including speech and keeping the larynx open for breathing.
+The dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve, located beneath the vagal trigone, plays a crucial role in autonomic control. It provides parasympathetic innervation to the heart, lungs, and digestive tract, influencing heart rate, respiratory rate, and gastrointestinal motility.
-==Clinical Significance==
+==Clinical significance==
-Damage to the vagal trigone can lead to a variety of medical conditions. For instance, it can cause [[dysphagia]] (difficulty swallowing), [[dysphonia]] (voice disorders), and [[dysarthria]] (difficulty articulating words). It can also lead to [[vagus nerve disorders]], which can cause a wide range of symptoms, including low blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, and digestive problems.
+Lesions affecting the vagal trigone or the underlying dorsal motor nucleus can lead to dysfunctions in the autonomic control of the organs innervated by the vagus nerve. This can result in symptoms such as bradycardia, dysphagia, and gastrointestinal disturbances.
-==See Also==
+==Images==
+[[File:Gray691.png|thumb|Diagram of the floor of the fourth ventricle. The vagal trigone is labeled at the lower right.]]
+[[File:Human_caudal_brainstem_posterior_view_description.JPG|thumb|Posterior view of the human caudal brainstem, showing the location of the vagal trigone.]]
+==Related pages==
+* [[Vagus nerve]]
 * [[Medulla oblongata]]
-* [[Vagus nerve]]
 * [[Fourth ventricle]]
-* [[Rhomboid fossa]]
+==References==
+* Standring, S. (2020). ''Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice''. 42nd edition. Elsevier.
+* Purves, D., Augustine, G. J., Fitzpatrick, D., et al. (2018). ''Neuroscience''. 6th edition. Oxford University Press.
+[[Category:Brainstem]]
 [[Category:Neuroanatomy]]
-[[Category:Brainstem]]
-[[Category:Vagus nerve]]
-{{stub}}