Anatomy

Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve

Branches of the vagus (tenth cranial) nerve. The recurrent laryngeal nerves originate more caudally than the superior laryngeal nerves and follow different paths on the right and left sides. They carry efferents to all muscles of the larynx except the cricothyroid and carry sensory and autonomic fibers to the laryngeal, pharyngeal, tracheal, and cardiac regions.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Branches of the vagus (tenth cranial) nerve. The recurrent laryngeal nerves originate more caudally than the superior laryngeal nerves and follow different paths on the right and left sides. They carry efferents to all muscles of the larynx except the cricothyroid and carry sensory and autonomic fibers to the laryngeal, pharyngeal, tracheal, and cardiac regions.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

11 entry terms
  • Laryngeal Nerve, Recurrent
  • Laryngeal Nerves, Recurrent
  • Nerve, Recurrent Laryngeal
  • Nerves, Recurrent Laryngeal
  • Recurrent Laryngeal Nerves
  • Laryngeal Nerve, Inferior
  • Inferior Laryngeal Nerve
  • Inferior Laryngeal Nerves
  • Laryngeal Nerves, Inferior
  • Nerve, Inferior Laryngeal
  • Nerves, Inferior Laryngeal

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

22 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings abnormalities, anatomy & histology, blood supply, chemistry, cytology, diagnostic imaging, drug effects, embryology, enzymology, growth & development, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, physiopathology, radiation effects, surgery, transplantation, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

disease: coordinate IM with CRANIAL NERVE DISEASES (IM); neoplasm: coordinate IM with CRANIAL NERVE NEOPLASMS (IM) + histological type of neoplasm (IM); paralysis = VOCAL CORD PARALYSIS

MeSH Record

History Note

91(75); was see under LARYNGEAL NERVES 1975-90

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. A08w.800w.050w.050w.925w.450.700w
  2. A08w.800w.050w.600w.825w.450.700w
  3. A08w.800w.800w.060w.920w.450.700w
  4. A08w.800w.800w.120w.900w.450.700w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D012009. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D012009
  2. Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recurrent_laryngeal_nerve
  3. Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q740541