THE INTRAMUSCULAR NERVE SUPPLY OF THE HUMAN LATERAL CRICOARYTENOID MUSCLE

The lateral cricoarytenoid (LCA) muscle is one of the adductors of the vocal cords; however, some investigators believe that the lateral edg e of the muscle may be involved in abduction. The possibility of funct ionally distinct compartments within the LCA wag investigated by obser ving the pattern of the intramuscular nerve supply. This technique has previously clearly demonstrated neural compartments in the posterior cricoarytenoid, thyroarytenoid and cricothyroid muscles. Five adult hu man larynges were processed by the Sihler's stain which clears all sof t tissue while counterstaining the nerves. The results of our study sh owed that the innervation pattern of the human LCA muscle, is composed of a homogeneous nerve plexus localized to the middle region of the m uscle. This pattern correlates with the location of motor endplates de scribed by prior investigators. The consistent neural pattern suggests that the LCA is composed of a single neuromuscular compartment.