The article gives a brief historical reference on the discovery and investigation of the superior laryngeal nerve, the anatomical and clinical exploration of its topography, physiology and pathophysiology, as well as main variants of the correlations of the external branch of the nerve and the superior thyroid artery. The importance of superior laryngeal nerve is shown in the voice-forming function of the larynx. The incidence and main methods of prevention of intraoperative lesions of the nerve are described. The authors consider the potentials of clinical and instrumental diagnostics, as well as the effectiveness of treatment of traumas of the exterior branch of the superior laryngeal nerve during surgery for diseases of the thyroid gland.