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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

In Vivo Evaluation of the Mechanical and Viscoelastic Properties of the Rat Tongue
Published on: July 6, 2017
Vagus, hypoglossal, and median nerves in human development
Y Liang1, Marong Fang, Jicheng Li
1Institute of Cell Biology, Medical College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Abstract:
In spite of the wealth of literature on the changes of the neurons in development of the brainstem and the spinal cord in vertebrates, the alterations of the cranial nerves and somatic nerves during the prenatal period was largely neglected. Particularly in humans, little information was available. The article reports the changes in the vagus, hypoglossal, and median nerves in the fetus and term babies. The changes of proportion of different-sized nerve fibers are documented. The patterns were different in the three nerves and the hypoglossal nerve seemed to show "pruning" of fibers during this period.
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