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Relationship of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve with Inferior Horn of Thyroid Cartilage, Berry’s Ligament and Zuckerkandl’s Tubercle

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Abstract

During neck surgery; Zuckerkandl’s tubercle, Berry’s ligament, the inferior horn of thyroid cartilages have become crucial anatomical landmarks in order to protect the integrity of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Forty-two male postmortem human cadavers were used. The proximal part of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, before the inferior thyroid artery arises from its source has been observed in 87% inside the tracheoesophageal groove and in 13% running laterally to the trachea. The recurrent laryngeal nerve was encountered passing behind and through the branches of the inferior thyroid artery in 92% and 8% respectively. At all sides; the nerve was piercing the larynx 0.6 ± 0.1 mm below the inferior horn of thyroid cartilage, passing next to the inner-lower side of Berry’s ligament and running under the lower middle part of Zuckerkandl’s tubercle. These landmarks and their upper mentioned distances to the laryngeal nerve can be taken into consideration as important surgical guides.

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Cadavers used in department of anatomy Akdeniz University.

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Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or nonprofit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vocational School of Health Services, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey

    Ozlem Zumre Kastan

  2. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Dumlupınar Boulevard & Campus, Antalya, 07058, Turkey

    Serra Ozturk & Muzaffer Sindel

  3. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kyrenia, Kyrenia, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

    Engin Calguner

  4. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey

    Bulent Veli Agırdır

Authors
  1. Ozlem Zumre Kastan
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  2. Serra Ozturk
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  3. Engin Calguner
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  4. Bulent Veli Agırdır
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  5. Muzaffer Sindel
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Contributions

Özlem Zümre Kaştan and Serra Öztürk were made dissection and making measurements, analysis of data, literature review and revising it critically for important intellectual content Muzaffer Sindel and Engin Çalgüner made drafting the work and substantial contributions to the conception of the work and interpretation of data for the work. Bülent Veli Ağırdır made dissection.

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Correspondence to Serra Ozturk.

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The study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine (Date: 03.09.2014 & No: 347).

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Kastan, O.Z., Ozturk, S., Calguner, E. et al. Relationship of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve with Inferior Horn of Thyroid Cartilage, Berry’s Ligament and Zuckerkandl’s Tubercle. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 74 (Suppl 2), 2065–2070 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-020-02018-1

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