Physiology of recurrent laryngeal nerve: report on progress.

Abstract

AN ATTEMPT has been made to evaluate the fundamental background of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis by understanding better the details of normal laryngeal and recurrent larygneal nerve function (1, 2, 3). We have been interested in demonstrating, if possible, true laryngeal motor function, and in eliminating controversial opinion as to recurrent nerve innervation. Accordingly we developed an apparatus with which we could record photographically changes produced by the alteration of vocal cord position when the various nerves supplying the larynx were stimulated in experimental animals. We wanted to know why abductor function is lost first in the recurrent laryngeal nerve in the presence of a lesion or following trauma to the nerve; why the vocal cord remains in the mid line or near mid line following injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve; whether there is motor function in the internal division of the superior laryngeal nerve (claimed by some authors) as an explanation for vocal cord position follow...