Recurrent laryngeal nerve

The recurrent laryngeal nerve is a nerve that supplies most of the muscles involved in voice production and the sensation of the larynx (voice box). It branches from a key nerve in the neck called the vagus nerve and loops around different arteries on each side of the body before ascending to the voice box. This unique pathway makes it vulnerable during surgeries involving the thyroid or nearby structures. Damage to this nerve can result in hoarseness, loss of voice, or breathing difficulties, highlighting its crucial role in voice and airway function.