superior laryngeal nerve

The superior laryngeal nerve is a branch of the vagus nerve (CN X) which supplies the larynx.

Summary

• origin: arises from the inferior ganglion of the vagus nerve (CN X)
• course
  • descends within the carotid sheath posterior and then medial to the internal carotid artery 
  • pierces the medial wall of the carotid sheath to continue descending along the lateral margin of the pharynx
  • at the level of the greater cornu of the hyoid bone, it divides into 2 terminal branches
• branches and supply
  • external laryngeal nerve which supplies the cricothyroid muscle (the only intrinsic muscle of the larynx not supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve)
  • internal laryngeal nerve which supplies mucosal sensation to the supraglottic larynx and epiglottis and also taste sensation from the valleculae

Siehe auch:

• Nervus laryngeus recurrens
• Larynxmuskulatur