Afferent Discharges from Laryngeal Articular Mechanoreceptors

Abstract

IN previous communications^1–3 we have described the afferent nerve supply of the laryngeal joints, and the various types of articular nerve ending innervated thereby. We have also shown that electrical stimulation of the larger diameter fibres in the laryngeal articular nerves— which fibres terminate in corpuscular end organs in, the capsules of the laryngeal joints^2,3—gives rise to reflexly co-ordinated contraction and relaxation of the laryngeal muscles which can be detected visually³ and electromyographically^4,5. We have further shown that similar reflexly co-ordinated changes in the tone of the laryngeal muscles are provoked by specific passive movements of isolated laryngeal joints^4,5. We now wish to report that oscillographic analysis of the impulse traffic in the articular nerves innervating the cricothyroid joint from the recurrent laryngeal nerve, and in the recurrent nerve itself, has identified the mechanoreceptor afferent discharges responsible for the reflex muscular responses to passive movement of the joint.