Extralaryngeal Terminal Division of the Inferior Laryngeal Nerve: Anatomical Classification by a Surgical Point of View

Table 1

Classification of anatomical location of terminal division point of the ILN*.

Type	Region	Definition
1	Arterial	Division occurs at or closely adjacent (±5 mm) to neurovascular crossing of the ILN and the ITA*.
2	Postarterial	Division occurs in the first (proximal) half of the distance between neurovascular crossing and laryngeal entry point of the ILN.
3	Prelaryngeal	Division occurs in the second (distal) half of the distance between neurovascular crossing and laryngeal entry point of the ILN.
4	Prearterial	Division occurs before (proximal to) neurovascular crossing of the ILN and the ITA.

∗ILN: inferior laryngeal nerve. ITA: inferior thyroid artery.