New animal model for assessment of functional laryngeal motor innervation

• The functional motor innervation of the larynx is not fully understood because of the complexity of the peripheral neuroanatomy. Since the late 19th century, there has been controversy regarding the role of the superior laryngeal nerve, which may have wider motor projections than are currently acknowledged. The aim of this study was to develop a large animal model to characterize and quantify the functional motor input to the intrinsic laryngeal muscles. Methods: We performed invasive electrophysiology (evoked electromyography) in normal pigs. Results: The thyroarytenoid, lateral cricoarytenoid, and posterior cricoarytenoid muscles receive dual innervation from both the superior and recurrent laryngeal nerves, whereas the cricothyroid muscle is innervated only by the superior laryngeal nerve. Conclusions: The dual innervation pattern from both laryngeal nerves supports the concept of a laryngeal nerve plexus. The motor input through the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve was surprisingly high. The animal model presented here may be used in future investigations of laryngeal reinnervation following nerve injury.

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