Which nerve supplies sensory innervation to the larynx below the vocal cords?

The recurrent laryngeal nerve is responsible for providing sensory innervation to the larynx below the vocal cords. It is a branch of the vagus nerve (CN X) and has important functions, including innervating the intrinsic muscles of the larynx, which are essential for voice production and the functioning of the vocal cords. This nerve specifically supplies sensory fibers to the mucosa in the infraglottic region of the larynx, which is situated below the vocal folds.

In contrast, the internal laryngeal nerve, also a branch of the vagus nerve, supplies sensory innervation above the vocal cords, specifically to the laryngeal mucosa above the vocal folds. The external laryngeal nerve primarily innervates the cricothyroid muscle, which plays a critical role in tension adjustment of the vocal cords, but it does not provide sensory innervation to the larynx. The glossopharyngeal nerve is involved in the sensation of the oropharynx and certain gustatory functions, but it does not have a role in sensory innervation of the larynx.

Thus, the recurrent laryngeal nerve distinctly carries sensory information from the area below the vocal cords