Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Transplantation of Olfactory Ensheathing Cells to Evaluate Functional Recovery after Peripheral Nerve Injury
Published on: February 24, 2014
Does intralaryngeal motor nerve sprouting occur following unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis?
W S Lewis1, R L Crumley, R H Blanks
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine.
Abstract:
Reinnervation of paralyzed intralaryngeal muscles by axonal sprouting from adjacent intact muscles (the phenomenon of muscular neurotization) has been observed, but the source is uncertain. The potential for laryngeal reinnervation of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle (PCA) from contralateral PCA motor nerve sprouting in a rabbit model was investigated. Unilateral PCA denervation was produced by vagotomy. The rabbits were examined for signs of PCA recovery for up to 6 months, using fiberoptic endoscopy, electromyography (EMG), and histology. No return of vocal cord abduction, EMG activity, or any nerve sprouting across the midline from the intact PCA was found. We conclude that there is no significant spontaneous intralaryngeal muscular neurotization to the paralyzed PCA. The clinical ramifications of our data will be discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue
Cranial Nerves: Types Part II
Facial Nerve (Cranial Nerve VII)
Cranial nerve VII, or the facial nerve,...
Cranial Part of Parasympathetic Division
The vagus nerve (cranial nerve X) alone accounts for approximately 75...
Larynx
Anatomy of the Larynx
The larynx consists of various components, including cartilage, muscles, and vocal cords. Its structure includes three large unpaired cartilages—the thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis—and three smaller paired cartilages—the arytenoids, corniculates, and...
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques

