Injury to the superior laryngeal nerve affects what aspect of vocalization?

The injury to the superior laryngeal nerve specifically impacts the cricothyroid muscle, which plays a crucial role in modulating tension and length of the vocal cords. This adjustment is essential for the production of high-pitched tones because when the cricothyroid muscle tenses, it allows the vocal cords to stretch and thin, enabling higher frequency vibrations.

Consequently, if the superior laryngeal nerve is damaged, the ability to produce high-pitched sounds is compromised, as the individual may struggle to adjust the tension of their vocal cords adequately. High pitches rely heavily on the ability to control the pitch and tension of the vocal cords, making the functionality of the superior laryngeal nerve critical to achieving those sounds. Other aspects like speaking loudly, vocal clarity, or singing may not be as directly affected by this particular nerve injury.