The evolution and progress of studies of the anatomy & electrophysiology of the laryngeal nerves in thyroid surgery

Thyroid surgery has always been closely involved with the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN). The goal of thyroid surgery is to remove all pathological thyroid tissue while preserving the parathyroid glands and both laryngeal nerves to ensure patients the highest quality of life after the operation. The goal of this paper was to assess the evolution and progress of studies of the anatomy & electrophysiology of the laryngeal nerves in thyroid surgery. Our knowledge of the anatomy and electrophysiology of laryngeal nerves in relation to thyroid operations has evolved over the centuries from visual RLN identification to the functional RLN identification with intraoperative neural monitoring (IONM). The progress in RLN identification has changed the surgical technic, surgical strategy in order to minimize the rate of complications. Now the thyroid surgery is safe procedure with the high quality of voice after this operation.