Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT)

What is the primary function of the recurrent laryngeal nerve?

1. Motor to cricothyroid muscle

2. Sensory below vocal folds

3. Motor to intrinsic laryngeal muscles

4. Veinous drainage of larynx

The correct answer is: Motor to intrinsic laryngeal muscles

The recurrent laryngeal nerve primarily serves as the motor innervation for most of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx, which are essential for the proper functioning of voice production and airway management. These intrinsic muscles include the cricoarytenoids, which are responsible for opening and closing the vocal folds, thereby playing a critical role in phonation and respiration. In terms of function, the recurrent laryngeal nerve is crucial for the dynamic adjustments of vocal fold tension and position, affecting pitch and volume during speaking and singing. Damage or dysfunction of this nerve can lead to vocal cord paralysis, hoarseness, or difficulty breathing, emphasizing its importance in laryngeal motor control. While the other options mention important functions related to the larynx, they do not accurately describe the primary role of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. For instance, one option involves the cricothyroid muscle, which is innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve, not the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Another mentions sensory innervation below the vocal folds, which is indeed managed by the recurrent laryngeal nerve, but this does not capture its primary role. Lastly, veinous drainage of the