Parasympathetic innervation of the cervical trachealis muscle in living dogs.

In 34 anesthetized dogs, we characterized the pathways by which parasympathetic fibers were carried to the cervical trachealis muscle. Nerves were stimulated electrically, and tracheal tension was monitored in segments of the posterior membrane in vivo as described previously (J.K. Brown et al.; J. Appl. Physiol: Respirat. Environ. Exercise Physiol. 49: 84-94, 1980). Stimulation of superior laryngeal nerves contracted 34 of 34 cranial cervical segments and 2 of 4 caudal cervical segments. Recurrent laryngeal nerves contributed to innervation of 34 of 34 cranial, as well as 4 of 4 caudal, segments. Stimulation of pararecurrent nerves contracted 11 of 34 cranial and 4 of 4 caudal segments. Mechanical effects of esophageal contraction, induced by stimulating pararecurrent nerves, did not alter tension in tracheal segments. Tracheal contractions induced by stimulation of all three pathways simultaneously were significantly less than the sum of contractions produced by stimulating each set individually; this was probably due to anastomoses between terminal neurons, overlap in their anatomic distribution, or intercellular nexuses in trachealis muscle. We conclude that parasympathetic innervation of the canine trachea is by three different neuroanatomic pathways.