Superior laryngeal nerve (SLN)

The **superior laryngeal nerve** is a branch of the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X), arising from its inferior ganglion and splitting into two main branches: the internal laryngeal nerve (which provides sensory innervation to the mucosa of the larynx above the vocal folds, epiglottis, and base of tongue) and the external laryngeal nerve (which supplies motor innervation to the cricothyroid muscle, affecting vocal cord tension and pitch). The superior laryngeal nerve does not represent a molecular druggable target like a receptor, transporter, or enzyme; instead, it is a mixed nerve vital for voice production and airway protection, but primarily a surgical and anatomical structure, not a molecular pharmacological target[1][2][4][5].

Other names

Internal laryngeal nerve (sensory branch)External laryngeal nerve (motor branch)