Sensory innervation to the posterior pharynx is provided by which nerve?

Sensory innervation to the posterior pharynx is provided by which nerve?

• A. Glossopharyngeal nerve
• B. Internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
• C. External branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
• D. Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Answer: (A)

The glossopharyngeal nerve carries the sensory fibers that innervate the mucosa of the oropharynx and the posterior part of the pharynx via its pharyngeal branches. This makes it the primary source of sensation for the posterior pharyngeal wall. The internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve provides sensory to the laryngeal mucosa above the vocal cords, not the posterior pharynx, and the external branch is motor to the cricothyroid muscle. The recurrent laryngeal nerve supplies sensation below the vocal cords. So for the posterior pharynx, sensation is carried by the glossopharyngeal nerve.

The glossopharyngeal nerve carries the sensory fibers that innervate the mucosa of the oropharynx and the posterior part of the pharynx via its pharyngeal branches. This makes it the primary source of sensation for the posterior pharyngeal wall. The internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve provides sensory to the laryngeal mucosa above the vocal cords, not the posterior pharynx, and the external branch is motor to the cricothyroid muscle. The recurrent laryngeal nerve supplies sensation below the vocal cords. So for the posterior pharynx, sensation is carried by the glossopharyngeal nerve.