title: Surgical anatomy of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve in Chinese adults and its clinical applications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to determine the anatomic features of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) in Chinese adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the anatomic distribution of the 86 EBSLNs in 43 cadavers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidences of the EBSLN in the thyroid area were 94.2% and 91.3% on the right and left sides, respectively. In accord with the Cernea classification, type 1 was 16.2%, type2a was 39.5%, and type 2 was 38.3%. There were no significant differences between the right and the left side. The high-risk position of the EBSLN was 77.8%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inferior cornu of the thyroid cartilage was a reliable landmark in identifying the external branch of superior laryngeal nerve. Racial variations between the white and the Chinese should be taken into consideration for an explanation of the differences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fu-Jie
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Jui-Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jia-Fwu
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Shyu
authors.forename: Cheng-Hsi
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Yi-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Shyr
authors.forename: Chew-Wun
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wing-Yui
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: Chen-Shen
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tien-Hua
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D001344:Autopsy; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000294:innervation; D007823:Laryngeal Nerves / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D061226:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries; D013624:Taiwan; D013957:Thyroid Cartilage / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control