The superior laryngeal nerve and the interarytenoid muscle in humans: an anatomical study

The course and distribution of the rami perforantes of the superior laryngeal nerve was studied in 12 human larynges. Dissections utilized a Zeiss operating microscope. All branches were found to perforate the muscle; none terminated in the muscle. This eliminates anatomically any possibility of motor supply to the mterarytenoid muscle from the superior laryngeal nerve. The rami perforantes also contribute to mucosal innervation on the posterior surface of the larynx. Histologic studies of whole fetal larynges corroborated the findings from the dissections. No evidence of innervation across the midline was found. No extra-laryngeal division of the recurrent laryngeal nerve into abductor and adductor branches was found. A ganglion around the superior laryngeal nerve was described.