aortic nerve aortic nerve the aortic nerve, also known as the aortic depressor nerve, is a branch of the vagus nerve. it supplies autonomic afferent nerve fibers to the peripheral baroreceptors and chemoreceptors found in the aortic arch. aortic nervedetailsfromvagus nerveinnervatesbaroreceptors and chemoreceptors of the aortic archidentifierslatinnervus aortaeanatomical terms of neuroanatomy structure the aortic nerve is an autonomic afferent nerve, and runs from the peripheral baroreceptors and chemoreceptors found in the aortic arch. it joins the vagus nerve. this allows for impulses to reach the solitary tract of the brainstem. function the aortic nerve is part of the nerve pathway that allows for afferent impulses to be sent from the aortic arch to the medulla oblongata for control of the circulatory system. history the aortic nerve was allegedly discovered by jewish russian-french physiologist elias von cyon and german physician carl ludwig.