Mnemonic

LARP

A mnemonic for the position of the vagal trunks on the oesophagus.

Expansion

Left Anterior, Right Posterior

Expansion

At the lower oesophagus:

  • L - Left vagus becomes Anterior
  • R - Right vagus becomes Posterior

The nerves form a plexus around the oesophagus in the posterior mediastinum and then reconstitute as the anterior and posterior vagal trunks before passing through the oesophageal hiatus.

The anterior (left) trunk supplies the anterior stomach and gives the hepatic branch; the posterior (right) trunk supplies the posterior stomach and gives the coeliac branch.