title: The recurrent laryngeal nerve: related vascular anatomy.
abstract: This study was based on 34 recurrent laryngeal nerve dissections after arterial casting with red-colored latex. The aim was to provide specific information about the perineural microvasculature. This study established the following points: 1. a great anatomic variability does exist; 2. the laryngeal nerve is usually in relation to the posterior branch of the inferior thyroid artery; and 3. this vascular branch is sometimes replaced with a vascular network. In all cases, this microvascularization must be preserved during thyroid surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire, Caen, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goullet de Rugy
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Babin
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salame
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delmas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valdazo
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D049669:History, 16th Century; D006801:Humans; D007823:Laryngeal Nerves / Q000033:anatomy & histology*