Superior laryngeal nerve

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The Superior Laryngeal Nerve arises from the middle of the ganglion nodosum and in its course receives a branch from the superior cervical ganglion of the sympathetic. It descends, by the side of the pharynx, behind the internal carotid artery, and divides into two branches, external and internal.

Superior laryngeal nerve
Plan of upper portions of glossopharyngeal, vagus, and accessory nerves. ("Laryngeal" labeled at lower right.)
Course and distribution of the glossopharyngeal, vagus, and accessory nerves. (Branches visible in upper right.)
Details
Identifiers
Latinn. laryngeus superior
TA98A14.2.01.160
TA26339
FMA6239
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

External branch

The external branch (ramus externus), the smaller, descends on the larynx, beneath the Sternothyreoideus, to supply the Cricothyreoideus.

It gives branches to the pharyngeal plexus and the Constrictor pharyngis inferior, and communicates with the superior cardiac nerve, behind the common carotid artery.

Internal branch

The internal branch (ramus internus) descends to the hyothyroid membrane, pierces it in company with the superior laryngeal artery, and is distributed to the mucous membrane of the larynx.

Of these branches some are distributed to the epiglottis, the base of the tongue, and the epiglottic glands; others pass backward, in the aryepiglottic fold, to supply the mucous membrane surrounding the entrance of the larynx, and that lining the cavity of the larynx as low down as the vocal folds.

A filament descends beneath the mucous membrane on the inner surface of the thyroid cartilage and joins the recurrent nerve.

Irritation of the internal laryngeal nerve results in uncontrolled coughing - usually as a result of food or water in the anterior pharynx.

See also

  • . GPnotebook https://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=-2066743236. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help) ("superior laryngeal nerve")
  • . GPnotebook https://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=1328873530. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help) ("external laryngeal nerve")
  • . GPnotebook https://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=-563412934. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help) ("internal laryngeal nerve")

  This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 912 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)