branches of the vagus nerve (the tenth cranial nerve); superior laryngeal nerves originate near the nodose ganglion and separate into external branches, which supply motor fibers to the cricothyroid muscles, and internal branches, which carry sensory fibers; the recurrent (inferior) laryngeal nerve originates more caudally and carries efferents to all muscles of the larynx except the cricothyroid; laryngeal nerves and their various branches also carry sensory and autonomic fibers to the laryngeal, pharyngeal, tracheal, and cardiac regions.