Sun17October0936AM 2

A 2-year-old child is listed for rigid bronchoscopy to remove an inhaled foreign body.

After induction of anaesthesia, his larynx and trachea are sprayed with lidocaine to anaesthetise the airway.

Which one of the following nerves conveys sensation from the larynx above the level of the vocal cords?

(Please select 1 option)

Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Internal branch of superior laryngeal nerve This is the correct answer

Maxillary branch of trigeminal nerve

Glossopharyngeal nerve Incorrect answer selected

External branch of superior laryngeal nerve

Explanation

The sensory innervation of the airway can be separated into three components.

The nasal cavity and nasopharynx are supplied by the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve.

The glossopharyngeal nerve innervates the posterior third of the tongue, pharynx and structures above the epiglottis.

The larynx is served by the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve above the vocal cords and the recurrent laryngeal nerve below the cords.

The external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve is a motor nerve controlling the cricothyroid muscle.

Answer Statistics

1

12%

2

43%

3

1%

4

21%

5

25%

Times answered: 251