The abducting muscle of the vocal cords is innervated by which nerve?

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Multiple Choice

The abducting muscle of the vocal cords is innervated by which nerve?

Explanation:
Abduction of the vocal cords is carried out by the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle, and its motor innervation comes from the recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus. The recurrent laryngeal nerve supplies all intrinsic laryngeal muscles except the cricothyroid. The cricothyroid is the muscle that lengthens and tenses the cords and is innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve. The internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve provides sensory innervation to the mucosa above the cords, not motor function. So the nerve responsible for abducting the vocal cords is the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

Abduction of the vocal cords is carried out by the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle, and its motor innervation comes from the recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus. The recurrent laryngeal nerve supplies all intrinsic laryngeal muscles except the cricothyroid. The cricothyroid is the muscle that lengthens and tenses the cords and is innervated by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve. The internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve provides sensory innervation to the mucosa above the cords, not motor function. So the nerve responsible for abducting the vocal cords is the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

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