Corpus: Anterior vagal trunk
1. Definition
The anterior vagal trunk is a branch of the vagus nerve located in front of the esophagus, formed from fibres of the esophageal plexus.
2. Anatomy
The anterior vagal trunk primarily consists of fibres from the left vagus nerve due to the stomach’s rotation during embryonic development. It gives off several important branches:
- Anterior gastric branches: These branches supply the anterior surface of the stomach and the small curvature. One of these branches is the minor anterior curvature nerve.
- Hepatic branches: These fibres go to the liver and form the hepatic plexus, which also gives off a pyloric ramus to the pylorus of the stomach.