Arterial supply of thyroid gland

Structure The inferior thyroid artery is the largest and most significant branch of the thyrocervical trunk. It divides into the inferior and superior branches near the base of the thyroid gland, which supply the thyroid gland's inferior and posterior surfaces. The superior branch also supply the parathyroid glands. • Glandular branches: Along with the superior thyroid artery, supplies the thyroid gland; divides into two parts, one of which supplies both the thyroid and the parathyroid glands • Muscular branches: Supply muscles of the neck or throat, including the infrahyoid, • Inferior laryngeal artery: Supplies the muscles and mucous membrane of the larynx • Tracheal branches: Supply the • Esophageal branches: Supply the • Ascending cervical artery: Supplies the muscles of the neck and connects to branches of the • Pharyngeal branches: Supply the The inferior thyroid artery’s relationship with the recurrent laryngeal nerve can vary considerably from one person to the next. Research shows that about 50% of the time, the nerve runs behind the artery, while it runs between branches of the artery in 25% of cases, and it runs in front of it in the other 25%. To protect all of the structures and the functions they allow, it’s important for surgeons to know about anatomical variations and, when possible, to use imaging tests to identify abnormalities before surgery. Function The inferior thyroid artery and its branches carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to various tissues ...

Structure The superior thyroid artery is closely related to the superior laryngeal nerve's external branch and continues through the thyroid fascia. It divides into the posterior and anterior branches after this point. The anterior branch supplies the anterior (toward the front) surface of the thyroid, while the posterior branch supplies the gland's side and middle surfaces. In some people, the superior thyroid artery arises from the common carotid artery instead of the external carotid artery. This alters its relationship to the superior laryngeal nerve, which is important for speech. In one study, only about 44% of people had the “standard” configuration, with the arteries of 28% of people coming from one place on the common carotid and almost 27% of arteries coming from another place on the common carotid. • The superior thyroid, lingual, and facial arteries arising together as the thyrolingual trunk, rather than branching off from the external carotid one at a time • The sternocleidomastoid branches sometimes arising directly from the external carotid rather than from the superior thyroid artery • An abnormal branching pattern of the superior thyroid artery at its origin and also of its five branches on the right side only, while the left follows the most common pattern • Hyoid artery (aka infrahyoid branch): Runs along the underside of the • Sternocleidomastoid artery: Runs downward to partially supply the • Superior laryngeal artery: Supplies blood to the muscles, mu...