Surgical anatomy of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve in Chinese adults and its clinical applications

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the anatomic features of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) in Chinese adults. We analyzed the anatomic distribution of the 86 EBSLNs in 43 cadavers. The incidences of the EBSLN in the thyroid area were 94.2% and 91.3% on the right and left sides, respectively. In accord with the Cernea classification, type 1 was 16.2%, type2a was 39.5%, and type 2 was 38.3%. There were no significant differences between the right and the left side. The high-risk position of the EBSLN was 77.8%. The inferior cornu of the thyroid cartilage was a reliable landmark in identifying the external branch of superior laryngeal nerve. Racial variations between the white and the Chinese should be taken into consideration for an explanation of the differences.