superior laryngeal nerve
anatomy
Quick Summary
The superior laryngeal nerve is a branch of the vagus nerve, which originates in the brainstem and extends through the face, thorax, and abdomen. This nerve specifically innervates the cricothyroid muscle, which is crucial for adjusting vocal fold tension to change the pitch of the voice. All other laryngeal muscles are supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve, another branch of the vagus nerve. Damage to the vagus nerve or its branches can lead to hoarseness and difficulties with swallowing or speaking.123
Summary created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
3 Britannica Sources
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
