Damage to which nerve would abolish sensation above the vocal cords?

Prepare for the Individual Readiness Assurance Test (iRAT) 4 in Head and Neck. Study with multiple-choice questions, comprehensive explanations, and detailed flashcards. Maximize your chances of success with thorough preparation and insightful study resources.

Sensation above the vocal cords is provided mainly by the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus. This nerve travels with the superior laryngeal artery and enters the laryngeal mucosa through the thyrohyoid membrane to supply the mucosa of the laryngeal inlet and the epiglottis. If this branch is damaged, those areas lose sensation, which would abolish protective sensory input in that region. The other nerves have different roles: the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve is motor to the cricothyroid muscle, not sensory; the recurrent laryngeal nerve supplies sensation below the vocal cords and motor to most intrinsic laryngeal muscles; and the lingual nerve supplies sensation to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, not the laryngeal mucosa.