[Electroneurography of the laryngeal nerves in the awake patient using electromyography of the larynx under zoom-endoscopic-control (author's transl)].

Electromyography of the larynx in the awake patient using zoom-endoscopy provides an earlier diagnosis of recurrent laryngeal nerve diseases by recording action potentials of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle. Not in every case the type of nerve lesion (neurapraxy, neurotmesis, axonotmesis) could be determined by the EMG alone. Therefore, neurography of the laryngeal nerves was investigated. With respect to the mixed innervation of the larynx by both the more sensible superior and the motoric inferior laryngeal nerve a reflex arc can be examined. The upper laryngeal nerve was stimulated transcutaneously. The afferent reflex arc leads to the ganglions of the vagus nerve and its central nuclei, its efferent motor neurons conduct reflex activity via the recurrent and upper laryngeal nerves back to the larynx. The reflex potentials can be measured out of the various larynx muscles by electromyography under endoscopic control. The importance of this method is demonstrated in cases of vocal cord palsies.