What is the nucleus solitarius?
Nucleus solitarius is the nucleus in the medulla that receives afferent information from the larynx (via cranial nerve X) and posterior pharynx and mediates the gag and cough reflexes (cranial nerves IX and X).
Pain sensation from these areas enters the brain stem through cranial nerves IX and X but terminates in the descending spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve.
