Taking a comprehensive approach in which all aspects of the vagal afferent system are considered, from the terminals in the visceral tissues to the neural pathways within the central nervous system, this extensive text reviews the development, neurochemistry, anatomy, biophysics, pharmacology, and physiology of the vagal afferent nerves. The authors present experimental techniques used to investigate the development, morphology, electrophysiology and reflex function of the vagal afferent nerves, and include state-of-the-art reviews of vagal afferent neurobiology by some of the world's leading experts in these fields.