title: The pharyngeal plexus-mediated glottic closure response and associated neural connections of the plexus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There continues to be a paucity of data regarding the pharyngeal plexus (PP) and its interconnectivity with the laryngeal nerves and function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the specific neural pathways involved in the glottic closure reflex (GCR)-like pathway of the PP and other pathways to the thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle in the porcine model.
  Animal experimental study from September 2013 to June 2014 conducted in a tertiary academic medical center on male Yorkshire pigs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Contraction of the TA was detected with electromyography (EMG) during electrical stimulation of the PP in 7 porcine necks. Subsequently, the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (eSLN), communicating nerve of Galen (NG), and the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) were sequentially transected to help elucidate the path of neural conduction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Confirmation of TA muscle contraction by EMG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stimulation of the PP evoked a response from the TA muscle in 6 of 7 subject animals. In 3 of 7 subjects, a long latency response (mean, 14.62 milliseconds) was identified, which was eliminated only after transection of the RLN. In 3 of 7 subjects, a short latency response (mean 3.05 milliseconds) was identified, which disappeared in 1 subject each by eSLN, RLN, and NG transection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We identified the specific neural pathway involved in the PP's GCR-like pathway. We also noted a variable direct pattern of innervation to the TA.
authors.affiliation: Section of Otolaryngology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Paskhover
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Cairo University of Egypt, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mikhail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wadie
authors.affiliation: Section of Otolaryngology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Clarence T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Sasaki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004576:Electromyography; D005931:Glottis / Q000294:innervation*; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000294:innervation*; D007823:Laryngeal Nerves / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009333:Neck / Q000294:innervation; D009431:Neural Conduction; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology