The pulmonary branches of the vagus nerve can be divided into two groups: anterior and posterior.

The Anterior Bronchial Branches (rami bronchiales anteriores; anterior or ventral pulmonary branches), two or three in number, and of small size, are distributed on the anterior surface of the root of the lung.

They join with filaments from the sympathetic, and form the anterior pulmonary plexus.

The Posterior Bronchial Branches (rami bronchiales posteriores; posterior or dorsal pulmonary branches), more numerous and larger than the anterior, are distributed on the posterior surface of the root of the lung; they are joined by filaments from the third and fourth (sometimes also from the first and second) thoracic ganglia of the sympathetic trunk, and form the posterior pulmonary plexus.

Branches from this plexus accompany the ramifications of the bronchi through the substance of the lung.

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 913 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

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