Table 2.

Contingency table analysis of effects of RLNp transection on occurrence of the esophageal phase of swallowing

	1 cm		4 cm		7 cm		10 cm
Volume of Water Injected, ml	Before	After	Before	After	Before	After	Before	After
2	5/3	0/8*	9/1	1/9*	9/1	2/8*	4/0	3/1
3	6/2	0/8*	10/0	2/8*	10/0	4/6*	4/0	3/1
4	7/1	0/8*	10/0	2/8*	10/0	6/4	4/0	3/1
5	8/0	2/6*	10/0	2/8*	10/0	7/3	4/0	3/1

Values represent numbers of animals where the stimulus was a success/failure at the location in the esophagus, i.e., 1, 4, 7, or 10 cm from the CP, before and after transection of the most proximal 1–2 cm of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLNp).

^*P < 0.05 (by Fisher's exact test) vs. Before at each esophageal location and each volume. RLNp transection blocked or significantly reduced initiation of the esophageal phase of swallowing at 1, 4, and 7 cm from the CP. Therefore, the RLNp transmits information essential to initiation of the esophageal phase of swallowing.