Which nerve lies immediately lateral to the trachea?

Which nerve lies immediately lateral to the trachea?

• A. Vagus
• B. Recurrent laryngeal
• C. Phrenic
• D. Long thoracic

Answer: (B)

Immediate lateral to the trachea in the neck is the recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus. It travels in the tracheoesophageal groove—the space between the trachea and the esophagus—and then ascends to the larynx to supply most intrinsic muscles of the vocal cords (except cricothyroid). This position explains why the nerve is at particular risk during neck procedures around the trachea or thyroid gland; injury can cause hoarseness from impaired vocal cord movement. The other nerves lie in different regions: the vagus itself runs in the carotid sheath behind the trachea, the phrenic runs along the anterior scalene, and the long thoracic runs on the lateral chest wall to the serratus anterior.

Immediate lateral to the trachea in the neck is the recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus. It travels in the tracheoesophageal groove—the space between the trachea and the esophagus—and then ascends to the larynx to supply most intrinsic muscles of the vocal cords (except cricothyroid). This position explains why the nerve is at particular risk during neck procedures around the trachea or thyroid gland; injury can cause hoarseness from impaired vocal cord movement. The other nerves lie in different regions: the vagus itself runs in the carotid sheath behind the trachea, the phrenic runs along the anterior scalene, and the long thoracic runs on the lateral chest wall to the serratus anterior.