title: Thyroarytenoid cross-innervation by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve in the porcine model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cross-innervation patterns to the thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle have long been sought after. We have identified in the porcine model, cross-innervation by way of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (eSLN).
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  TA contraction was electromyographically recorded when electrically stimulating the eSLN in six porcine necks. The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) was subsequently transected. The insertion of the cricothyroid (CT) muscle on the cricoid was then subsequently removed as well.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stimulation of the eSLN rendered a response from the TA muscle in 6/6 subject necks, with a mean latency of 2.76 msec. TA muscle contraction by way of eSLN stimulation persisted after the RLN was transected and after CT insertion release.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The TA muscle is directly cross-innervated by a branch of the eSLN in the porcine model. This finding may have implications regarding possible future laryngeal pacing strategies and could be a target nerve for rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Section of Otolaryngology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Paskhover
authors.forename: Mikhail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wadie
authors.forename: Clarence T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Sasaki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000294:innervation*; D007823:Laryngeal Nerves / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009121:Muscle Denervation; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D013552:Swine
keywords: Superior laryngeal nerve; electromyography; vocal cords