Evidence for recurrent laryngeal nerve contribution in motor innervation of the human cricopharyngeal muscle

• Published in: The Laryngoscope 1999-05, Vol.109 (5), p.705-708
• Main Authors: Brok, Heidy A. J., Copper, Marcel P., Stroeve, Rutger J., de Visser, Bram W. Ongerboer, Venker-van Haagen, Anjob J., Schouwenburg, Paul F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Cricopharyngeal muscle; Ear and associated structures. Auditory pathways and centers. Hearing. Vocal organ. Phonation. Sound production. Echolocation; Electrodiagnosis. Electric activity recording; Electromyography; Esophagus - innervation; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; muscle innervation; Muscle, Smooth - innervation; Nervous system; pharyngeal constrictor muscle; Pharynx - innervation; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve - physiology; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 0023-852X; 1531-4995
• DOI: 10.1097/00005537-199905000-00005

Objective: To study the functional motor nerve supply of the upper esophageal sphincter in humans. Study Design: Intraoperative electromyographic study. Methods: The contribution of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the pharyngeal plexus in the motor nerve innervation of the cricopharyngeal muscle and the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle was examined intraoperatively. Results: Electromyography showed that there is a considerable overlap in the innervation of the cricopharyngeal muscle and the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle. The recurrent laryngeal nerve functionally contributes to the motor innervation of the cricopharyngeal muscle in all patients and contributes to the motor innervation of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle in most patients. The pharyngeal plexus functionally contributes to the motor innervation of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle but does not always contribute to the motor innervation of the cricopharyngeal muscle. Conclusions: This is the first report which provides evidence that the recurrent laryngeal nerve functionally contributes to the motor innervation of the cricopharyngeal and inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle. Furthermore, this study shows that intraoperative electromyography in humans is a feasible method to analyze the physiology of the motor innervation of the upper esophageal sphincter.