The recurrent laryngeal nerve is a branch of the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X) that innervates the intrinsic muscles of the larynx, except the cricothyroid muscle. It is responsible for motor control of the vocal cords, enabling voice modulation and breathing regulation. The RLN's unique anatomical pathâlooping under the aortic arch on the left and around the subclavian artery on the rightâmakes it vulnerable to injury.
