Table 1.

A summary of cadaveric studies that have assessed the intracranial and/or cutaneous map of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN).

Reference	Number of cadavers (sex if available)	Mean age of cadavers (range if available)	Number of ears	Summary of salient findings in relation to the ABVN
(Ueno et al. 1993)	2m, 1f	71m (70–72) 65f (65)	5 (3m, 2f)	A branch of the vagus nerve, together with a branch of the facial nerve, supply the posterior parts of the external acoustic meatus in humans
(Tekdemir et al. 1998)	18m	57 (49–71)	16	The ABVN was observed in the external acoustic meatus in all specimens, although it was not possible to discern its precise cutaneous map In its course to the mastoid canaliculus (which conveys the ABVN from the jugular foramen to the facial canal), the ABVN ran in a partial bony canal in 18% of specimens
(Peuker & Filler, 2002)	7 (m and f)	N/A (68–84)	14	There are conflicting results in the table and the main text, which are explored in this review article
(Kiyokawa et al. 2014)	7m, 4f	79.6 (N/A)	18	The postero‐superior wall of the external acoustic meatus was innervated by nerve branches that emerged from the tympano‐mastoid fissure in 17/18 specimens Nerve branches that emerged from the tympano‐mastoid fissure always crossed the facial canal and had more than one communicating branch with the facial nerve inside the canal (17/17) or in the petrous bone (1/17). These branches originated from the superior ganglion of the vagus nerve In the origin from the vagus nerve, some of these branches communicated with the glossopharyngeal nerve (3/17)
(Watanabe et al. 2016)	3	N/A	6	In 6/6 specimens, the ABVN and facial nerve were exposed in the mastoid bone The two main branches of the ABVN were dissected over the chorda tympani nerve and facial nerve, and the small branch arising from the ABVN distal segment and connecting with the chorda tympani was found

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ABVN, Auricular branch of the vagus nerve; f, female; M, male.