The appearance of the vocal cords on clinical exam can give insight into a patient's underlying problem.
Examination of the vocal cords shows appearance of both the left and right vocal cords.
Appearance
Term
Cause
cord fully mobile
normal
NA
cord fixed, fully open
abducted
adductor paralysis
cord fixed, in the midline
adducted
abductor paralysis
cord fixed, in-between open and closed
cadaveric
complete paralysis
The cadaveric position is seen when there is complete laryngeal paralysis due to lesions affecting the superior and recurrent laryngeal nerves on the effected side.
The cord is adducted (in the midline) when there is complete paralysis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve on that side.
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