Which statement regarding the recurrent laryngeal nerves is correct?
- A They provide motor supply to all intrinsic muscles of the larynx except the cricothyroid ✓
- B Both nerves supply the cricothyroid muscle
- C The right nerve hooks around the arch of the aorta and the left nerve hooks around the right subclavian artery
- D They arise directly from the glossopharyngeal nerve
Correct answer: A. They provide motor supply to all intrinsic muscles of the larynx except the cricothyroid
Explanation
The recurrent laryngeal nerves are branches of the vagus. The left nerve loops under the arch of the aorta and the right loops under the right subclavian artery, so option C reverses the sides and is wrong. They supply every intrinsic laryngeal muscle except the cricothyroid, which is supplied by the external laryngeal nerve. They also carry sensory fibres below the vocal cords, but their defining motor role is as stated in the key.
Reference: Gray's Anatomy for Students, 4th ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.