314ANATOMICAL VARIATIONS AND BRANCHING PATTERNS OF THE RECURRENT LARYNGEAL NERVE: INSIGHTS FROM ANTERIOR NECK SURGERY STUDIESA number of recent studies have focused on the anatomical relationships, divisions, and branches of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) during anterior neck surgery. The association of this artery with the inferior thyroid artery, its penetration into the larynx, and its divisions outside the larynx have been researched specifically. Researchers observed that the RLN divides outside the larynx in a study involving dissection of 44 laryngeal nerves. There are two branches of the superior laryngeal nerve, one of which communicates with the internal branch, while the other penetrates the larynx. There are also three to seven muscles connected to the inferior laryngeal nerve above the cricoid cartilage's lower margin. Muscles included in this category are the anterior and posterior cricoarytenoids, as well as the oblique, transversal, lateral, and lateral cricoarytenoidsArchana@gmail.comResearch1122021Human, Surgery, Laryngeal Nerve, ThyroidDr. Archana Satish RajurkarAssociate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Gouri Devi Institute of Medical Scences & Hospital, Durgapur, West Bengal, India