Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-sxzjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T11:52:17.363Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An anatomical study of the myelination of human laryngeal nerves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 August 2011

J C Fleming ,
N Gibbins ,
P J Ingram  and
M Harries
J C Fleming*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, UK
N Gibbins
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, UK
P J Ingram
Affiliation:
Mathematics Department, Imperial College, London, UK
M Harries
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr J C Fleming, Specialty Registrar, ENT Department, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton BN2 5BE, UK E-mail: JCFleming@doctors.net.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

To determine the differences in myelination between the human recurrent laryngeal nerve and superior laryngeal nerve.

Methods:

Fifteen confirmed laryngeal nerve specimens were harvested from five cadavers. Cross-sections were examined under a photomicroscope and morphometric analysis performed.

Results:

There was a significantly greater number of myelinated fibres than unmyelinated fibres, in both the recurrent laryngeal nerve (p = 0.018) and the superior laryngeal nerve (p = 0.012). There was a significantly greater number of myelinated fibres in the superior laryngeal nerve, compared with the recurrent laryngeal nerve (p = 0.028). However, there was no significant difference in the number of unmyelinated fibres, comparing the two nerves (p = 0.116).

Conclusion:

These findings support those of previous studies, and provide further evidence against the historical plexus theory of laryngeal nerve morphology. The differences in the degree of myelination, both within and between the human laryngeal nerves, may have clinical consequence regarding recovery of function following nerve injury.

Keywords

LarynxRecurrent Laryngeal NerveLaryngeal NervesMyelin SheathCadaverAnatomy
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 125 , Issue 12 , December 2011 , pp. 1263 - 1267
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Presented at the 8th Congress of the European Laryngological Society, 3 September 2010, Vienna, Austria

References

1Wyke, BD, Kirchner, JA. Neurology of the larynx. In: Hinchcliff, R, Harrison, D, eds. Scientific Foundations of Otolaryngology. London: Heineman, 1976;546–74Google Scholar
2Onodi, A. The Anatomy and Physiology of the Laryngeal Nerves [in German]. Berlin: Oscar Coblenz Verlag, 1902;35Google Scholar
3Lemere, F. Innervation of the larynx II. Anat Rec 1932;54:389–407CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4Tomasch, J, Britton, WA. A fibre analysis of the laryngeal nerve supply in man. Acta Anat 1955;23:386–98CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5Domeij, S, Carlsoo, B, Dahlqvist, A, Hellstrom, S, Kortopoulos, H. Motor and sensory fibers of the superior laryngeal nerve in the rat. A light and electron microscopic study. Acta Otolaryngol 1989;108:469–77CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6Suzuki, M, Kirchner, JA. Sensory fibers in the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1969;78:21–31CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7Scheur, JL. Fibre size frequency distribution in normal human laryngeal nerves. J Anat 1964;98:99–104Google Scholar
8Steinberg, J, Khane, GJ, Fernandes, CMC. Anatomy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve: a redescription. J Laryngol Otol 1986;100:919–27CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Nguyen, M, Junien-Lavillauroy, C, Faure, C. Anatomical intra-laryngeal anterior branch study of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Surg Rad Anat 1989;11:123–7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10Reeves, TM, Phillips, LL, Povlishock, JT. Myelinated and unmyelinated axons of the corpus callosum differ in vulnerability and functional recovery following traumatic brain injury. Exp Neurol 2005;196:126–37CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11Tiago, RS, Pontes, PA, Brasil Ode, O. Quantitative analysis of myelinic fibers in human laryngeal nerves according to age. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 2008;74:45–52CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Clark, G. Staining with chromoxane cyanine R. Stain Technol 1979;54:6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13Murtagh, JA, Campbell, CJ. The respiratory function of the larynx. III. The relation of fibre size to function in the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Laryngoscope 1951;61:581–90CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Germain, MA, Trotoux, J, Bruneau, X. The laryngeal nerves: histomorphometric study and mapping [in French]. Ann Otolaryngol Chir Cervicofac 1986;103:379–88Google Scholar
15Tiago, R, Pontes, P, do Brasil, OC. Age-related changes in human laryngeal nerves. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2007;136:747–51CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16Dilworth, TFM. The nerves of the human larynx. J Anat 1921;56:48–52Google ScholarPubMed
17Kierner, AC, Aigner, M, Burian, M. The external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve: its topographical anatomy as related to surgery of the neck. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1998;124:301–3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18Hengerer, AS, Tucher, HM. Restoration of abduction in the paralyzed canine vocal cord. Arch Otolaryngol 1973;97:247–50CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19Harrison, DFN. Detailed morphology. In: The Anatomy and Physiology of the Human Larynx. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995:48–185Google Scholar
20Mayhew, TM, Sharma, AK. Sampling schemes for estimating nerve fibre size. I. Methods for nerve trunks of mixed fascicularity. J Anat 1984;139:45–58Google Scholar