The right recurrent laryngeal nerve loops under which structure?

• A. Carotid Body
• B. Pulmonary Artery
• C. Aortic Arch
• D. Subclavian Artery

Answer: (D)

The right recurrent laryngeal nerve loops under a major vessel in the chest before it climbs back up to the larynx. Specifically, it branches from the vagus in the superior mediastinum and hooks around the first part of the right subclavian artery, then ascends in the tracheoesophageal groove to innervate the intrinsic muscles of the larynx. This is different from the left side, where the nerve loops under the aortic arch near the ligamentum arteriosum. The subclavian artery is the vessel that the right nerve loops around, which is why that structure is the correct choice.