External Branch of Superior Laryngeal Nerve
Ramus externus nervi laryngei superioris
Read moreQuick Facts
Origin: Superior laryngeal nerve.
Course: Runs anteriorly and inferiorly with the superior thyroid artery towards the cricothyroid muscle.
Branches: None.
Supply: Motor innervation to the inferior pharyngeal constrictor and cricothyroid muscles.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve originates near the tip of the greater horn of the hyoid bone, lateral to the pharynx and posterior to the carotid arteries.
Course
From its origin, the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve runs anteriorly and inferiorly along with the superior thyroid artery. When it reaches the thyroid gland, the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve continues along the superficial surface of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle, deep to the sternohyoid muscle, and into the lateral side of the cricothyroid muscle.
Branches
There are no named branches.
Supplied Structures
The external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve is a motor nerve that innervates two muscles, the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle and the cricothyroid muscle.
Fibers of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve given off at the level of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle can potentially communicate with and contribute to the pharyngeal plexus, allowing minor contributions to the innervation of other pharyngeal muscles.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Superior Laryngeal Nerve
The superior laryngeal nerve is a branch of the inferior ganglion of the vagus nerve that courses with the superior thyroid artery to innervate the cricothyroid muscle.
