Chapter 57: Thyroid Gland- Anatomy Flashcards
Define the arterial blood supply to the thyroid
Two arteries:
- Superior thyroid artery (first branch of the external carotid artery)
- Inferior thyroid artery (branch of the thyrocervical trunk) (IMA artery rare)
What is the venous drainage of the thyroid?
- Superior thyroid vein
- Middle thyroid vein
- Inferior thyroid vein
Name the thyroid lobe appendage coursing toward the hyoid bone
from around the thyroid isthmus
Pyramidal lobe
What percentage of patients have a pyramidal lobe?
≈50%
Name the lymph node (LN) group around the pyramidal thyroid lobe.
Delphian LN group
What is the thyroid isthmus?
Midline tissue border between the left and right thyroid lobes
Which ligament connects the thyroid to the trachea?
Ligament of Berry
Which paired nerves must be carefully identified during a
thyroidectomy?
Recurrent laryngeal nerves
- which are found in the tracheoesophageal grooves
- dive behind the cricothyroid muscle
- damage to these nerves paralyzes laryngeal abductors and causes hoarseness if unilateral, and airway obstruction if bilateral
What other nerve is at risk during a thyroidectomy and what are the
symptoms?
Superior laryngeal nerve; if damaged, patient will have a deeper and quieter voice (unable to hit high pitches)