Inferior thyroid artery
Encyclopedia
The inferior thyroid artery arrises from the thyrocervical trunk
and passes upward, in front of the vertebral artery
and Longus colli, then turns medially behind the carotid sheath
and its contents, and also behind the sympathetic trunk
, the middle cervical ganglion resting upon the vessel.
Reaching the lower border of the thyroid gland it divides into two branches, which supply the postero-inferior parts of the gland, and anastomose with the superior thyroid
, and with the corresponding artery of the opposite side.
The recurrent laryngeal nerve
passes upward generally behind, but occasionally in front of, the artery. This makes it vulnerable to injury during surgery that involves ligating the inferior thyroid artery, such as excision of the lower pole of the thyroid gland.
The branches of the inferior thyroid are:
Thyrocervical trunk
The thyrocervical trunk is a branch of the subclavian artery arising from the first portion of this vessel, i.e. between the origin of the subclavian artery and the inner border of the scalenus anterior muscle...
and passes upward, in front of the vertebral artery
Vertebral artery
The vertebral arteries are major arteries of the neck. They branch from the subclavian arteries and merge to form the single midline basilar artery in a complex called the vertebrobasilar system, which supplies blood to the posterior part of the circle of Willis and thus significant portions of the...
and Longus colli, then turns medially behind the carotid sheath
Carotid sheath
The carotid sheath is an anatomical term for the fibrous connective tissue that surrounds the vascular compartment of the neck. It is part of the deep cervical fascia of the neck, below the superficial cervical fascia meaning the subcutaneous adipose tissue immediately beneath the skin.The deep...
and its contents, and also behind the sympathetic trunk
Sympathetic trunk
The sympathetic trunks are a paired bundle of nerve fibers that run from the base of the skull to the coccyx.-Structure:...
, the middle cervical ganglion resting upon the vessel.
Reaching the lower border of the thyroid gland it divides into two branches, which supply the postero-inferior parts of the gland, and anastomose with the superior thyroid
Superior thyroid
Superior thyroid can refer to:* Superior thyroid artery* Superior thyroid vein...
, and with the corresponding artery of the opposite side.
The recurrent laryngeal nerve
Recurrent laryngeal nerve
The recurrent laryngeal nerve is a branch of the vagus nerve that supplies motor function and sensation to the larynx . It travels within the endoneurium...
passes upward generally behind, but occasionally in front of, the artery. This makes it vulnerable to injury during surgery that involves ligating the inferior thyroid artery, such as excision of the lower pole of the thyroid gland.
Branches
- Inferior laryngeal arteryInferior laryngeal arteryThe inferior laryngeal artery ascends upon the trachea to the back part of the larynx under cover of the Constrictor pharyngis inferior, in company with the recurrent nerve, and supplies the muscles and mucous membrane of this part, anastomosing with the branch from the opposite side, and with the...
- Esophageal branches of inferior thyroid arteryEsophageal branches of inferior thyroid arteryThe esophageal branches of inferior thyroid artery supply the esophagus, and anastomose with the esophageal branches of the aorta....
- Tracheal artery
- Ascending cervical arteryAscending cervical arteryThe ascending cervical artery is a small branch which arises from the inferior thyroid artery as that vessel is passing behind the carotid sheath; it runs up on the anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the cervical vertebræ in the interval between the Scalenus anterior and Longus...
- Muscular artery