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Chapter: Medicine and surgery: Nervous system

Glossopharyngeal (IX) and vagus (X) lesions - Disorders of cranial nerves

Nerve fibres arise from nuclei in the medulla to form these two nerves, which pass out via the jugular foramen.

Glossopharyngeal (IX) and vagus (X) lesions

 

Anatomy

 

Nerve fibres arise from nuclei in the medulla to form these two nerves, which pass out via the jugular foramen.


Function

They have motor, sensory and autonomic functions. Glossopharyngeal receives taste and common sensation from the posterior third of the tongue, the oropharynx via the pharyngeal plexus, and the tonsillar fossa and soft palate.

 

Vagus carries motor fibres to the muscles of the palate, pharnyx and larynx. It also carries autonomic innervation to the heart, respiratory tract and gut.

 

 

Specific causes

 

Central causes include vascular lesions of the medulla, tumours, syringobulbia and motor neurone disease. Aneurysms and tumours in the posterior fossa and meningitis may affect the nerves. The left recurrent laryngeal nerve (a branch of the vagus) may be damaged in head and neck surgery, or compressed by hilar lymph nodes from lung tumours.

 

 

Clinical features

 

Impaired gag reflex (IX forms the sensory component, X the motor), a hoarse voice and abnormal swallow.

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Medicine and surgery: Nervous system : Glossopharyngeal (IX) and vagus (X) lesions - Disorders of cranial nerves |

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Medicine and surgery: Nervous system


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