CVS Practice Test

What is the role of the vagus nerve in the oculocardiac reflex?

1. Increased sympathetic outflow

2. Decreased parasympathetic tone

3. Increased parasympathetic tone

4. Triggered autonomic responses

The correct answer is: Increased parasympathetic tone

The role of the vagus nerve in the oculocardiac reflex is primarily associated with increased parasympathetic tone. This reflex is a physiological response that occurs when pressure is applied to the eyeball, leading to a drop in heart rate or bradycardia. The vagus nerve, a crucial component of the parasympathetic nervous system, mediates this effect by sending signals to the heart to reduce its activity. When the oculocardiac reflex is activated, the stimulation of the sensory fibers in the trigeminal nerve (which innervates the eye) creates an afferent pathway up to the brain, which then activates the efferent vagus nerve pathway. The result is an increased release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that promotes parasympathetic effects, such as heart rate reduction. In contrast, other choices involve actions that either do not occur or are counter to what happens during this reflex. The role of the vagus nerve is specifically about enhancing parasympathetic activity when stimulated by events such as ocular pressure, making increased parasympathetic tone the correct interpretation of its function in this physiological reflex.