The Human Communicating Nerve: An Extension of the External Superior Laryngeal Nerve That Innervates the Vocal Cord

摘要: Objective: A second source of motor innervation for the thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle, other than recurrent laryngeal nerve, has been suggested by clinical and experimental observations. Early anatomists noted what appeared to be small nerves connecting cricothyroid TA muscles; however, these observations were disputed later subsequently forgotten. Method: In this study, we processed 27 human hemilarynges with Sihler's stain, a technique that clears soft tissue counterstains nerve. addition, four communicating (CNs) frozen sectioned stained acetylcholinesterase, marker neurons. Results: 12 (44%) specimens, neural connection was found exited medial surface muscle then entered into lateral muscle. general, CN composed two parts: an intramuscular branch usually combined nerve or terminated within directly extramuscular passed through in subglottic mucosa around cricoarytenoid joint. All CNs tested positive acetylcholinesterase. Specifically, contained average 2510 myelinated axons, which 785 (31%) Conclusion: The results suggest when is present, it supplies extensive sensory area may fifth branchial arch, structure never identified (to our knowledge). (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1994;120:1321-1328)