Right recurrent laryngeal nerve

Nervus laryngeus recurrens dexter

NervousNervesWhole bodyRight side

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What it is
Branches from the right vagus at the root of the neck, loops under the right subclavian artery and ascends in the tracheo-oesophageal groove to the larynx.
Function
Motor to the right-sided intrinsic laryngeal muscles (except cricothyroid) and sensation below the vocal folds.
Size
About 1 mm thick, ~10 cm
Clinical note
In about 1 % of people, when the right subclavian artery arises abnormally, this nerve does not recur at all and runs straight to the larynx - a surprise for the thyroid surgeon.

Part of Right vagus nerve (CN X)

Nearby nervous structures Accessory nerve (CN XI), Brachial plexus, Cardiac plexus, Cervical plexus, Left phrenic nerve, Left recurrent laryngeal nerve, Left vagus nerve (CN X), Right phrenic nerve, Spinal cord, Spinal dura mater (dural sac)