system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 68-year-old man comes to the physician because of a 4-month history of difficulty swallowing. During this time, he has also had a 7-kg (15-lb) weight loss. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy shows an exophytic mass in the distal third of the esophagus. Histological examination of a biopsy specimen shows a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient is scheduled for surgical resection of the tumor. During the procedure, the surgeon damages a structure that passes through the diaphragm along with the esophagus at the level of the tenth thoracic vertebra (T10). Which of the following structures was most likely damaged?
assistant
Vagus nerve