The laryngeal nerve is 15 feet long in giraffes because
A) a giraffe's throat is located far away from its brain.
B) this nerve connects to the spinal cord.
C) the nerve is modified from an ancestor that did not have a neck.
D) this nerve is a vestigial organ.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The laryngeal nerve in giraffes is long because it evolved from ancestors that did not have long necks, and its path was not significantly altered despite the elongation of the neck through evolution. This results in the nerve taking a long detour from the brain to the larynx, looping around the heart.

The Laryngeal Nerve Is 15 Feet Long in Giraffes Because