Hammond C S, Davenport P W, Hutchison A, Otto R A
Department of Communication Processes and Disorders, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA.
J Appl Physiol (1985). 1997 Jul;83(1):89-94. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1997.83.1.89.
Patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) paresis demonstrate impaired function of laryngeal muscles and swallowing. The cricopharyngeus muscle (CPM) is a major component of the upper esophageal sphincter. It was hypothesized that the RLN innervates this muscle. A nerve branch leading from the RLN to the CPM was found in adult sheep by anatomic dissection. Electrical stimulation of the RLN elicited a muscle action potential recorded by electrodes placed in the ipsilateral CPM. Swallowing was investigated by mechanical stimulation of oropharynx pre- and postsectioning of the RLN. Severing of the RLN resulted in a loss of the early phases of swallow-related CPM electromyographic activity; however, late-phase CPM electromyographic activity persisted. The RLN provides motor innervation of the CPM, which also has innervation from the pharyngeal plexus.
喉返神经（RLN）麻痹患者表现出喉肌功能和吞咽功能受损。环咽肌（CPM）是食管上括约肌的主要组成部分。据推测，喉返神经支配该肌肉。通过解剖在成年绵羊中发现了一条从喉返神经通向环咽肌的神经分支。对喉返神经进行电刺激可诱发置于同侧环咽肌的电极记录到肌肉动作电位。通过在切断喉返神经前后对口咽部进行机械刺激来研究吞咽情况。切断喉返神经导致吞咽相关的环咽肌肌电图活动早期阶段消失；然而，环咽肌肌电图活动的晚期阶段仍然存在。喉返神经为环咽肌提供运动神经支配，环咽肌也接受来自咽丛的神经支配。
