The spelling of "nervus jugularis" may seem intimidating, but it can be broken down using IPA phonetic transcription. "Nervus" is pronounced as "nɜːvəs," with the stress on the first syllable. "Jugularis" is pronounced as "dʒʊɡjʊˈlɑːrɪs," with the stress on the second syllable. The "j" sound represents a soft "g" sound, while "u" sounds like "uh." "Aris" in Latin is usually spelled with "aros" in Greek. Together, "nervus jugularis" refers to the main nerve found along the neck's jugular vein.
The term "nervus jugularis" refers to the jugular nerve, a cranial nerve in the human body. It is often referred to as the vagus or tenth cranial nerve. The nervus jugularis is the longest cranial nerve, extending from the brainstem through the neck and into the thorax and abdomen. It is a mixed nerve, meaning it contains both motor and sensory fibers.
The nervus jugularis plays a crucial role in the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, breathing, and digestion. It provides parasympathetic innervation to several organs, including the heart, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. This means it helps slow down the heart rate, constrict bronchi, and stimulate digestive processes.
In addition to its parasympathetic functions, the nervus jugularis also carries sensory information from the throat, larynx, and viscera. It contributes to the sense of taste, and its branches transmit information about pain, touch, and temperature from the areas it innervates.
Damage or dysfunction of the nervus jugularis can lead to various health conditions, including difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, gastrointestinal disturbances, and changes in heart rate. Clinicians often assess its function through various tests to diagnose and manage these disorders.
In summary, the nervus jugularis refers to the jugular nerve, which is the longest cranial nerve responsible for controlling and coordinating various vital functions in the body, including parasympathetic innervation and sensory transmission.
Jugular nerve, a communicating branch between the superior cervical ganglion of the sympathetic and the ganglion nodosum of the vagus and the petrosal ganglion of the glossopharyngeal.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The term "nervus jugularis" comes from Latin.
The word "nervus" means "nerve" in Latin, which ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁nḗr̥ (tendon, sinew). It has cognates in other Indo-European languages such as Greek "neuron" and Sanskrit "nā́ḍī" (nerve).
The word "jugularis" means "of the throat" in Latin and is derived from the noun "iugulum", which refers to the throat or collarbone region. The term "jugularis" is related to the verb "iugulare", meaning "to cut through the throat" or "to slaughter", as it originally referred to the killing of animals by cutting their throats.