[Anatomic and surgical study of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and its involvement with the ligament of Berry].

Objective: To study the anatomical relations of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) with the ligament of Berry (LB), and point out the different ways of presenting the relationship between these two structures.

Methods: We conducted a study with anterior cervical dissection of 22 corpses, in the years 2009 and 2010, with attention towards the frequency of presentation of anatomical relations between the NLR and Berry ligament, with the following classification: Type I or intraligamentary: the nerve and / or its branches were visualized in the ligament substance conjunctiva; Type IIA or lateral: nerve and / or its branches lateral to the ligament; Type IIB or lateral paraligamentary: nerve and / or its side branches and in contact with the ligament without penetrating it; Type III or medial: nerve and / or its branches visualized after complete dissection of the ligament, in lateral-medial position.

Results: The study analyzed 41 RLNs, which comprised eight (19.