What is the inferior thyroid artery?
The ITA is the third branch of the thyrocervical trunk. The inferior thyroid artery is considered the principal blood supplier of the thyroid gland. The ITA gives rise to the ascending cervical artery, the inferior laryngeal artery, and also gives pharyngeal, tracheal, and esophageal branches.
Why the inferior thyroid artery is tortuous in structure?
The tortuous course of the inferior thyroid artery is due to the fact that in every swallow the thyroid gland ascends a few centimeters and must naturally drag its blood supply with it.
Which artery does inferior thyroid artery rise from?
thyrocervical trunk
Origin. The inferior thyroid artery (Fig. 22.7) arises from the thyrocervical trunk, which branches from the subclavian artery on the pleural dome, in front and a little lateral of the vertebral artery.
Where is the best site for ligations inferior thyroid artery?
Because of extreme variability of the inferior thyroid artery and the RLN, it is suggested that the artery be ligated either proximally or at its tertiary branches on thyroid capsule. The internal branch of the SLN is not potentially at risk during thyroidectomy unless the superior thyroid artery is ligated proximally.
What nerve runs with inferior thyroid artery?
The anatomical relationship between the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and the inferior thyroid artery (ITA) is volatile (Fig. 1). The ITA usually arises from the thyrocervical trunk and supplies the thyroid gland, while the RLN, which is a mixed nerve, is one of the branches of the vagus nerve.
Where does inferior thyroid vein drain?
brachiocephalic veins
The inferior thyroid veins are many and they drain into the subclavian or brachiocephalic veins.
Which artery is damaged during thyroidectomy?
The left recurrent nerve loops under and around the arch of the aorta before ascending, whereas the right one loops around the right subclavian artery. These nerves can be damaged during thyroidectomy and cause dysphonia and less efficient coughing.
What are the branches of the inferior thyroid artery?
The branches of the inferior thyroid artery are the inferior laryngeal, the oesophageal, the tracheal, the ascending cervical and the pharyngeal arteries. The inferior laryngeal artery climbs the trachea to the back part of the larynx under cover of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle.
Which nerve runs with the inferior thyroid artery?
Where does inferior thyroid artery drain?
The left inferior thyroid vein drains into the left brachiocephalic vein, while the right inferior thyroid vein empties into the right brachiocephalic vein. At times, the inferior thyroid veins may join and drain directly into the superior vena cava or into the right brachiocephalic vein via a common trunk.
How many inferior thyroid veins are there?
The inferior thyroid veins appear two, frequently three or four, in number, and arise in the venous plexus on the thyroid gland, communicating with the middle and superior thyroid veins.
What is the difference in drainage between the superior middle thyroid veins and the inferior thyroid vein?
While the superior and middle thyroid veins serve as direct tributaries to the internal jugular vein, the inferior thyroid veins drain directly to the brachiocephalic veins.
What are the three major life threatening complications postoperatively of a thyroidectomy?
Major postoperative complications include wound infection, bleeding, airway obstruction (compressing hematoma, tracheomalacia), hypocalcemia, thyroid storm (uncommon, usually associated with Grave’s disease) and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Incidence is 3-5%.
Does inferior thyroid artery supply thymus?
It is an anatomical variant that, when present, supplies blood to the thyroid gland primarily, or the trachea, the parathyroid gland and the thymus gland (as thymica accessoria) in rare cases.
What nerve is close to inferior thyroid artery?
the recurrent laryngeal nerve
At the inferior pole of the thyroid gland, the recurrent laryngeal nerve is closely related to the inferior thyroid artery.
What drains into the inferior thyroid vein?
The inferior thyroid vein drains blood from the inferior portion of the thyroid, and parts of the larynx, esophagus and trachea 3.
Where do the inferior thyroid veins drain?
The inferior thyroid veins are many and they drain into the subclavian or brachiocephalic veins.
What nerve is at greatest risk during a thyroidectomy?
Injury to the Superior Laryngeal Nerve The external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) is probably the nerve most commonly injured in thyroid surgery, with an injury rate estimated at 0-25%.
Is a thyroidectomy a high risk surgery?
Thyroidectomy is generally a safe procedure. But as with any surgery, thyroidectomy carries a risk of complications. Potential complications include: Bleeding.
Where is the tracheoesophageal groove?
The RLN enters the larynx posterior to the cricothyroid joint and inferior to the inferior constrictor muscle. 3 Tracheoesophageal groove is the sulcus formed because of the abutment of the trachea anteriorly and esophagus posteriorly and is useful for identifying the RLN.
The inferior thyroid artery runs up through your neck and throat. It is considered one of the main vessels that supply blood to the thyroid gland, which is situated in the front of your neck and produces hormones that keep your body functioning, along with the superior thyroid artery.
What is thyroidea ima?
Injected cadaver specimen demonstrating dominant superior thyroid artery supply of the thyroid gland. A superior laryngeal artery is visible. Thyroidea IMA — when the inferior thyroid artery arises proximal to its expected thyrocervical trunk origin, whether from the arch or from the subclavian, thats what you call it.
What does the superior thyroid artery look like?
The superior thyroid artery is typically the first branch of the external carotid artery. Most of its flow directed into the thyroid bed, with a characteristic thyroid blush on catheter angiography. It is very often seen on a (well-performed) CTA. A superior laryngeal branch often arises from the superior thyroid artery.
What are the two branches of the thyroid artery?
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 artery, and with the corresponding artery of the opposite side.