The posterior vagal trunk is one of the two divisions (the other being the anterior vagal trunk) into which the

vagus nerve The vagus nerve, also known as the tenth cranial nerve (CN X), plays a crucial role in the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating involuntary functions within the human body. This nerve carries both sensory and motor fibe ...

splits as it passes through the

esophageal hiatus In human anatomy, the esophageal hiatus is an opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus and the vagus nerve pass. Structure The esophageal hiatus is an oval opening in (sources differ) the right crus of the diaphragm/left crus of the ...

to enter the

abdominal cavity The abdominal cavity is a large body cavity in humans and many other animals that contain Organ (anatomy), organs. It is a part of the abdominopelvic cavity. It is located below the thoracic cavity, and above the pelvic cavity. Its dome-shaped roo ...

. The anterior and posterior vagal trunks together represent the inferior continuation of the esophageal nervous plexus inferior to the

diaphragm Diaphragm may refer to: Anatomy * Thoracic diaphragm, a thin sheet of muscle between the thorax and the abdomen * Pelvic diaphragm or pelvic floor, a pelvic structure * Urogenital diaphragm or triangular ligament, a pelvic structure Other * Diap ...

Anatomy

Branches

* Celiac branch * Posterior gastric branches of posterior vagal trunk, Posterior gastric branches

References

External links

* () * https://web.archive.org/web/20071202231521/http://anatomy.med.umich.edu/modules/peritoneal_dev_module/peritoneal_03.html Vagus nerve Nerves of the torso {{Neuroanatomy-stub