Development of the human dorsal nucleus of vagus nerve: a morphometric study.

The development of the human dorsal nucleus of the vagus nerve was studied on serial sections of the brain of 10 fetuses at 16-40 weeks of gestation, an infant at 2 months of age and an adult of 63 years. A morphometric analysis revealed that the nucleus is divided into three subnuclei (caudal, dorsal and ventral) and that this subdivision is maintained from 16 weeks of gestation to adulthood. The early development of the nucleus is gradual between 16 and 40 weeks of gestation without the rapid growth phase apparent with the motor trigeminal, hypoglossal and facial nuclei.