Progress in identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve in thyroid and parathyroid surgery has lagged behind the identification of other head and neck nerves. Attempts to use electronic pulsed nerve stimulators with evoked response electromyography have failed due to the absence of a convenient and effective method of monitoring the larynx. A Postcricoid Laryngeal Surface Electrode as herein described shows excellent initial results as an electrode for electromyographic monitoring of the larynx for recurrent laryngeal nerve identification.