This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

External laryngeal nerve (vagus, anatomy)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The external laryngeal nerve is a branch of the vagus nerve. It forms from the superior laryngeal nerve as it divides at about the level of the hyoid bone. It passes inferiorly within the carotid sheath, posterior to the common carotid artery, and then anteriomedially next to the superior thyroid artery.

The external laryngeal nerve ramifies on the surface of the inferior constrictor muscles before piercing them. It supplies special visceral motor fibres to the cricothryroid muscle. Also, it may supply a few motor fibres to the cricopharyngeus part of the inferior constrictors as it passes through. Both sets of nerve fibres originate from nuclei within the nucleus ambiguus of the medulla.


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.