THORAX ABDOMEN AND PELVIS

Detailed explanation-1: -The left RLN curves below and behind the aortic arch at the level of the ligamentum arteriosum. The right RLN loops under the subclavian artery. Then both nerves ascend lateral to the trachea, run in the tracheoesophageal groove and behind the thyroid, toward the larynx.

Detailed explanation-2: -Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle The recurrent laryngeal nerve innervates this muscle, as it does all the other intrinsic muscles of the larynx, with the exception of the cricothyroid muscle. Its function is to abduct the vocal folds.