Revised Anatomy of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerves: Surgical Importance, Based on the Dissection of 100 Cadavers*

IN 1948 Brien King (1, 2) of Seattle published the results of a series of special dissections and experiments he had been conducting, which have seemed to raise the shroud of mystery and unexplained phenomena from certain phases of laryngeal behavior, especially with regard to the derangement of laryngeal function following damage to one or both recurrent laryngeal nerves. King's findings are of such importance as to make it desirable to extend his observations, since they were based on dissection experience with only 16 cadavers. We, therefore, undertook our own separate investigation of this subject at the University of California School of Medicine. The larynx is a musculo-cartilaginous organ, the functions of which, according to Negus (3, 4), are three: 1. Protection of the respiratory tract distal to the vocal cords against the ingress of foreign particles, especially during the act of swallowing. 2. Maintenance of a patent airway. 3. Vocalization. The functions of the larynx are carried out by four ...