Use this 3D render to better understand one of the body's most important communication pathways and to help chart the route of the vagus nerve from the skull into the neck and beyond.
How to use it
Rotate, zoom, and inspect the model to orient yourself to where the nerve leaves the skull and how it relates to nearby structures in the upper neck.
Why it matters
Better anatomical orientation helps make discussions of stimulation points, pathways, and symptom patterns far easier to visualize.
Embedded directly on the page for continuous study and reference.
3D model by ISMMS_students via Sketchfab .
Orientation guide
As you rotate the model, focus on the point where the vagus nerve exits the skull through the jugular foramen and continues downward past the superior and inferior ganglia. This area is especially useful for anyone trying to build a clearer mental map of the upper cervical vagus pathway.
Study note
This viewer is here to help people understand where the nerve sits in real space before thinking about regulation, stimulation, or symptom patterns. Once the pathway is easier to picture, the rest of the conversation becomes easier to follow.
Superior Ganglion
The superior ganglion sits just below the jugular foramen and contains sensory neuron cell bodies associated with the vagus nerve. On the model, use it as one of the first major landmarks after the nerve exits the skull.
Inferior Ganglion
The inferior ganglion, often called the nodose ganglion, lies lower in the upper neck and is a major sensory relay point. It is a crucial structure to identify when charting the early descent of the vagus nerve from the skull base.
Jugular Foramen
The jugular foramen is the skull opening through which the vagus nerve leaves the cranial cavity. In this render, it is one of the most important orientation points for understanding where the nerve enters and exits the head-neck transition zone.