Page 9 - SONO 260 Chapter 12 The Neck

VASCULAR ANATOMY OF THE THYROID
GLAND AND NECK
• Two prominent vascular structures can be noted lateral to the thyroid gland: the common carotid artery and the internal jugular vein.
• The most medial vessel is the common carotid artery.
• The common carotid arteries branch into internal and
external carotid arteries above the thyroid gland.
• The superior thyroid artery is the first branch of the external carotid artery.
• The inferior thyroid artery is a branch of the thyrocervical trunk of the subclavian artery.
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