The vagus nerves are the longest cranial nerves, running from the brain down through the neck and trunk. They exit from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem and pass through or connect with structures in the neck, chest, heart, lungs, and abdomen. The vagus nerves are part of the parasympathetic nervous system and play important roles in regulating involuntary functions like digestion, heart rate, breathing, immune system responses, mood, and production of mucus and saliva.