Name that Muscle
The only intrinsic laryngeal muscle innervated by the external branch of the SLN.
👉 What is the cricothyroid?
The nerve that provides sensation to the anterior ⅔ of the tongue.
👉 What is the trigeminal nerve (V3 – lingual)?
The most common nerve injured during subtotal thyroidectomy.
👉 What is the recurrent laryngeal nerve?
Sustained involuntary contraction of laryngeal muscles causing inability to ventilate.
👉 What is laryngospasm?
The only bone in the body that does not articulate with another bone.
👉 What is the hyoid bone?
The sole muscle responsible for abducting the vocal cords and preventing airway obstruction.
👉 What is the posterior cricoarytenoid?
The afferent limb of the gag reflex.
👉 What is the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)?
Unilateral RLN injury typically causes this symptom but is not an airway emergency.
👉 What is hoarseness?
A classic chest wall finding described as a “rocking horse” appearance.
👉 What is paradoxical chest wall movement?
The only complete cartilage ring in the airway.
👉 What is the cricoid cartilage?
This muscle shortens and relaxes the vocal cords and is innervated by the RLN.
👉 What is the vocalis?
This nerve provides sensory innervation from the posterior epiglottis to the level of the vocal cords.
👉 What is the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve?
Bilateral RLN injury causes cords to move into this position during inspiration.
👉 What is the midline?
The pulmonary complication caused by strong inspiratory efforts against a closed glottis.
👉 What is negative pressure pulmonary edema?
In adults, the narrowest region of the airway during intubation.
👉 What are the vocal cords (glottic opening)?
This muscle closes the laryngeal vestibule during swallowing.
👉 What is the aryepiglottic muscle?
Injury to this nerve results in a “wavy” vocal cord due to inability to tense it.
👉 What is the superior laryngeal nerve (external branch)?
The dangerous mechanism behind acute bilateral RLN injury.
👉 What is unopposed cricothyroid muscle action?
The maneuver applying pressure behind the earlobe to break laryngospasm.
👉 What is Larson’s maneuver?
In pediatrics, the narrowest fixed portion of the airway.
👉 What is the cricoid ring?
Paired intrinsic muscles that close the posterior commissure of the glottis.
👉 What are the interarytenoid muscles (transverse & oblique)?
This nerve loops under the aortic arch, making it more vulnerable to thoracic pathology.
👉 What is the left recurrent laryngeal nerve?
The definitive treatment for acute bilateral RLN injury with respiratory distress.
👉 What is emergent intubation or surgical airway?
The neuromuscular blocker used as rescue therapy for refractory laryngospasm.
👉 What is succinylcholine?
These cartilages are lateral to the corniculates and support the aryepiglottic folds.
👉 What are the cuneiform cartilages?