Superior laryngeal nerve anatomy in corpses not preserved in formaldehyde: contribution to the operative technique

Ludércio Rocha De Oliveira,Alcino Lázaro Da Silva

doi:10.1590/s0102-86502007000300011

Ludércio Rocha De Oliveira, Alcino Lázaro Da Silva

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-86502007000300011

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Abstract

To carry out an anatomic study of superior laryngeal nerve in not preserved in formaldehyde and not frozen corpses. Thirty-eight male corpses from the Minas Gerais Medico-legal Institute (IML) were studied. In 18 corpses dissection was performed bilaterally and in 20 only on the left side, total number 56 nerves dissected. Their descriptive segments measurements and the anatomic relations with the cervical structures of the region were described. This nerve was statistically analyzed; the variables were corpse side (Friedman's test (p<0.05), height (Pearson), racial group (Kruskal-Wallis). The superior laryngeal nerve presented a definite anatomical disposition in all the 56 nerves studied, emerging from the nervus vagus inferior ganglion. The superior laryngeal nerve trunk was in average longer in corpses over 25 years old (p<0.05). Significant differences (p<0.05) between the internal and external branches were observed in all racial groups, and the internal branch average was inferior to the external branch average. There were not significant differences between the 18 studied corpses' left and right sides paired measurements. Concerning emergence, trunk, bifurcation and major branches, the 56 studied nerves disposition had a definite anatomic pattern. The superior laryngeal nerve trunk was in average longer in corpses over 25 years old. In this study, the external branch of the laryngeal nerve was in average longer than the internal branch.

Highlights

Since the first human anatomy citations, at the end of the 19 century, when the descriptive and topographic study of the neck region was carried out with the purpose of teaching the students, and for medical-scientific application, the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN), it seems to us, has not been dissected and minutely described in several human anatomy books
Comparing the SLN internal and external branches, a significant difference was observed between their B-C1 and B-D1 measurements (p
The measurements of the ibSLN (B-C1) and the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (ebSLN) (BD1), related to the race, have shown a significant difference (p

Summary

Introduction

Since the first human anatomy citations, at the end of the 19 century, when the descriptive and topographic study of the neck region was carried out with the purpose of teaching the students, and for medical-scientific application, the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN), it seems to us, has not been dissected and minutely described in several human anatomy books. Its study is of paramount importance with the aim of avoiding its lesion during the surgical act. The knowledge of the SLN anatomy leads to a better tactic organization, with useful surgical technique possibilities, to avoid important laryngeal phonation disorders. Because of the lack of more precise information on the measurements and the importance of the SLN and its relations with the other neck structures, this work has aimed at performing an anatomical study in not preserved in formaldehyde and not frozen corpses, to demonstrate those measurements and the anatomical relations of this nerve, with the cervical structures of interest

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