Compilation of free information about human parts, their function, assembly, repair, and maintenance
External laryngeal nerve
| Nerve: External laryngeal nerve | |
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| Course and distribution of the glossopharyngeal, vagus, and accessory nerves. (External branch of superior laryngeal labeled at center right.) | |
| Latin | ramus externus nervi laryngei superioris |
| Gray's | subject #205 912 |
| Innervates | cricothyroid muscle, pharyngeal plexus |
| From | superior laryngeal nerve |
The external laryngeal nerve is the smaller, external branch (ramus externus) of the superior laryngeal nerve. It descends on the larynx, beneath the sternothyroid muscle, to supply the cricothyroid muscle.
It gives branches to the pharyngeal plexus and the superior portion of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor, and communicates with the superior cardiac nerve behind the common carotid artery.
Clinical significance
The external branch is susceptible to damage during thyroidectomy, as it lies immediately deep to the superior thyroid artery. High pitched sound production is impaired by injury to this nerve.
External links
- 1328873530 at GPnotebook
- Maranillo E, León X, Quer M, Orús C, Sañudo J (2003). "Is the external laryngeal nerve an exclusively motor nerve? The cricothyroid connection branch.". Laryngoscope 113 (3): 525–9. doi:. PMID 12616208.
- Overview at sprojects.mmi.mcgill.ca
- cranialnerves at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (X)
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The content of this section is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License (local copy). It uses material from the Wikipedia article "External laryngeal nerve" modified July 23, 2009 with previous authors listed in its history.
