Injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve typically results in which voice quality?

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Multiple Choice

Injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve typically results in which voice quality?

Explanation:
The recurrent laryngeal nerve controls most of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles that move the vocal folds, especially the muscle that abducts (pulls apart) the folds. When this nerve is injured, the affected vocal fold cannot abduct properly and may sit in a partially closed or paramedian position. The other, intact side can still adduct, so the two folds don’t close completely during phonation. That incomplete glottic closure lets air escape as you speak, producing a breathy voice. In unilateral injury this often comes with hoarseness, but the telltale quality is breathiness due to the gap in closure.

The recurrent laryngeal nerve controls most of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles that move the vocal folds, especially the muscle that abducts (pulls apart) the folds. When this nerve is injured, the affected vocal fold cannot abduct properly and may sit in a partially closed or paramedian position. The other, intact side can still adduct, so the two folds don’t close completely during phonation. That incomplete glottic closure lets air escape as you speak, producing a breathy voice. In unilateral injury this often comes with hoarseness, but the telltale quality is breathiness due to the gap in closure.

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