The laryngopharyngeal nerve: a comprehensive review

The laryngopharyngeal nerve: a comprehensive review

The laryngopharyngeal nerve has received much less attention that the other contributions to the pharyngealplexus i.e., glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves. Often, in descriptions and depictions, the nerve is simply labeled as thesympathetic contribution to the pharyngeal plexus. As there is such scant information available regarding this nerve, the present review was performed. Very little is found in the extant medical literature regarding the laryngopharyngeal nerve. However, based on available data, the nerve is a consistent contributory to the pharyngeal plexus and serves other adjacentareas e.g., carotid body. Therefore, a better understanding of this structure’s anatomy is important for those who operate inthis area. Further studies are necessary to better elucidate the true function of the laryngopharyngeal nerve.