Final answer:
The laryngeal elevation is accomplished by the suprahyoid muscles, which are innervated chiefly by the ansa cervicalis, with contributions from the vagus and hypoglossal nerves. These muscles aid in deglutition by raising the larynx to protect the respiratory tract during swallowing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The muscles that are responsible for laryngeal elevation during swallowing and speaking are primarily the suprahyoid muscles. These include the digastric, stylohyoid, mylohyoid, and geniohyoid muscles. The thyrohyoid muscle is part of the infrahyoid muscle group that also affects the larynx by elevating the larynx’s thyroid cartilage. The innervation of these muscles, especially the ones driving the elevation of the larynx, typically comes from the ansa cervicalis nerve (a loop of nerves from the cervical plexus), with some fibers also supplied by the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X) and hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII).
During the process of deglutition (swallowing), coordinated movements are essential for safely transferring food from the mouth to the stomach. Elevating the larynx allows the epiglottis to cover the glottis effectively, preventing food from entering the respiratory tract.