Superior thyroid artery

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Superior thyroid artery
Superficial dissection of the left side of the neck, showing the carotid and subclavian arteries.
The fascia and middle thyroid veins. (Superior thyroid artery labelled at upper left.)
Details
Sourceexternal carotid artery
BranchesHyoid artery
Sternocleidomastoid artery
Superior laryngeal artery
Cricothyroid artery
Veinsuperior thyroid vein
Suppliesthyroid
Identifiers
Latinarteria thyreoidea superior
TA98A12.2.05.002
TA24370
FMA49472
Anatomical terminology

The superior thyroid artery arises from the external carotid artery just below the level of the greater cornu of the hyoid bone and ends in the thyroid gland.

Structure

From its origin under the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid the superior thyroid artery runs upward and forward for a short distance in the carotid triangle, where it is covered by the skin, platysma, and fascia; it then arches downward beneath the omohyoid, sternohyoid, and sternothyroid muscles.

To its medial side are the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle and the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve.

Branches

It distributes twigs to the adjacent muscles, and numerous branches to the thyroid gland, connecting with its fellow of the opposite side, and with the inferior thyroid arteries. The branches to the gland are generally two in number. One, the larger, supplies principally the anterior surface; on the isthmus of the gland it connects with the corresponding artery of the opposite side. A second branch descends on the posterior surface of the gland and anastomoses with the inferior thyroid artery.

Besides the arteries distributed to the muscles and to the thyroid gland, the branches of the superior thyroid are:

Clinical significance

This artery must be ligated at the thyroid when conducting a thyroidectomy. If the artery is severed, but not ligated, it will bleed profusely. In order to gain control of the bleeding, the surgeon may need to extend the original incision laterally to ligate the artery at its origin at the external carotid artery. Furthermore, the external laryngeal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve courses close to the superior thyroid artery, making it at risk of injury during surgery.

See also

Additional images

  • Diagram showing the origins of the main branches of the carotid arteries.
    Diagram showing the origins of the main branches of the carotid arteries.
  • The internal carotid and vertebral arteries. Right side. (Superior thyroid visible at center.)
    The internal carotid and vertebral arteries. Right side. (Superior thyroid visible at center.)
  • The thyroid gland and its relations.
    The thyroid gland and its relations.
  • Side of neck, showing chief surface markings.
    Side of neck, showing chief surface markings.
  • Superior thyroid artery
    Superior thyroid artery
  • Muscles, arteries and nerves of neck.Newborn dissection.
    Muscles, arteries and nerves of neck.Newborn dissection.
  • Muscles, nerves and arteries of neck.Deep dissection. Anterior view.
    Muscles, nerves and arteries of neck.Deep dissection. Anterior view.

References

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 552 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)


External links