Airway management: superior laryngeal nerve block: practice question

A Anaesthesia question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anaesthesia · Airway management: superior laryngeal nerve block

Sample item

Which nerve is blocked to anaesthetise the larynx above the vocal cords for awake intubation, by injection through the thyrohyoid membrane?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve

The internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve gives sensation to the larynx above the vocal cords and pierces the thyrohyoid membrane. Blocking it, with topical or transtracheal anaesthesia below the cords, suppresses airway reflexes for awake intubation. The external branch is motor to cricothyroid.

Option by option

  • A. Internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (correct)

    Correct. This sensory branch pierces the thyrohyoid membrane and supplies the supraglottic larynx.

  • B. Hypoglossal nerve

    The hypoglossal nerve is the motor nerve of the tongue.

  • C. Recurrent laryngeal nerve

    The recurrent laryngeal nerve supplies sensation below the cords.

  • D. External branch of the superior laryngeal nerve

    The external branch is a motor nerve to the cricothyroid muscle.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is A, Internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve. The internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve gives sensation to the larynx above the vocal cords and pierces the thyrohyoid membrane.

Why is "Hypoglossal nerve" not the answer?

The hypoglossal nerve is the motor nerve of the tongue.

Why is "Recurrent laryngeal nerve" not the answer?

The recurrent laryngeal nerve supplies sensation below the cords.

Why is "External branch of the superior laryngeal nerve" not the answer?

The external branch is a motor nerve to the cricothyroid muscle.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway management: superior laryngeal nerve block in Anaesthesia. Blocking it, with topical or transtracheal anaesthesia below the cords, suppresses airway reflexes for awake intubation. The external branch is motor to cricothyroid.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Airway management: superior laryngeal nerve block?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.