Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42826532›Full record

ReviewBrazilian journal of otorhinolaryngology2026

Speaking the same anatomical language: standardizing laryngeal nerve terminology matters in anatomy and medicine.

Jaiurte Gomes Martins da Silva, Eduarda Correia Moretti, Philippe Oliveira Lima, Darlisson Rodrigues Duarte, Abrahao Verçosa Amorim Filho, Anderson Fernandes Silva, Glícia Maria de Oliveira, Jodonai Barbosa da Silva, Ivson Bezerra da Silva, Mariana de Carvalho Leal Gouveia

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Brazilian journal of otorhinolaryngology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Jaiurte Gomes Martins da SilvaUniversidade Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Complexo de Ciências Médicas e Enfermagem (CCME), Arapiraca, AL, Brazil. Electronic address: jaiurte.silva@arapiraca.ufal.br.
Eduarda Correia MorettiUniversidade Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICBS), Maceió, AL, Brazil.
Philippe Oliveira LimaUniversidade Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Complexo de Ciências Médicas e Enfermagem (CCME), Arapiraca, AL, Brazil.
Darlisson Rodrigues DuarteUniversidade Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Complexo de Ciências Médicas e Enfermagem (CCME), Arapiraca, AL, Brazil.
Abrahao Verçosa Amorim FilhoUniversidade Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Faculdade de Medicina, Maceió, AL, Brazil.
Anderson Fernandes SilvaUniversidade Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Faculdade de Medicina, Maceió, AL, Brazil.
Glícia Maria de OliveiraUniversidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Centro Acadêmico de Vitória (CAV), Vitória de Santo Antão, PE, Brazil.
Jodonai Barbosa da SilvaUniversidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
Ivson Bezerra da SilvaUniversidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
Mariana de Carvalho Leal GouveiaUniversidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Centro de Ciências Médicas, Recife, PE, Brazil. Electronic address: mariana.gouveia@ufpe.br.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis study aimed to identify the most appropriate terminology for the nerve commonly referred to as the "recurrent laryngeal nerve" or "inferior laryngeal nerve", based on official anatomical nomenclatures. Additionally, it sought to analyze the frequency of use of these terms in scientific literature and provide a detailed anatomical description of the nerve to promote terminological accuracy in academic and clinical settings.

methodsA descriptive analysis was conducted in three phases. First, a literature search was performed in MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, LILACS, SciELO, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, alongside a review of major anatomical textbooks, to quantify the usage of both terms. Second, theTerminologia Anatomica (TA) and Terminologia Neuroanatomica (TNA) were consulted to identify the officially sanctioned term. Third, a comprehensive description of the nerve's anatomy, function, and clinical significance was compiled from authoritative sources.

resultsThe term "recurrent laryngeal nerve" was overwhelmingly predominant in all searched scientific databases and modern anatomical textbooks. For instance, MEDLINE/PubMed yielded 1,828 articles using this term in the title, compared to only 111 for "inferior laryngeal nerve". Both the TA and TNA exclusively recognize "N. laryngeus recurrens", translated as "recurrent laryngeal nerve", as the official designation. The term "inferior laryngeal" in current nomenclatures is reserved for vascular structures, namely the inferior laryngeal artery and vein.

conclusionThe correct and internationally accepted term is "recurrent laryngeal nerve". The consistent use of standardized terminology is crucial for precise communication in education, clinical practice, and research. A thorough understanding of the recurrent laryngeal nerve's anatomical course and variations is essential for minimizing the risk of iatrogenic injury during surgical procedures in the neck, particularly thyroid and parathyroid surgeries.

Indexed as

AnatomyClinical medicineRecurrent laryngeal nerveTerminology

Identifiers

PMID42826532
PMCPMC13660538

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.