Thyroidectomy and swallowing/vocal cord fxn.

[Miracoli]

A thyroidectomy procedure lesions a nerve that enters the pharynx at the junction of the inferior constrictor and the esophagus. Which of the following functions will be affected by the lesion?
a. The ability to elevate the larynx during swallowing
b. The ability to elevate the palate during swallowing
c. The ability to abduct the vocal fold
d. The ability to contract the middle constrictor during swallowing
e. The ability to detect the presence of a foreign body in the mucosa of the vestibule of the larynx

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[YeahNoMind]

C. Recurrent laryngeal?

 

[CherryRedDracul]

Classic recurrent laryngeal nerve question. The nerve innervates the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle, the only laryngeal muscle that pulls apart (abducts) the vocal folds.