The thyrocervical trunk is a short, wide branch of the subclavian artery arising just medial to the anterior scalene muscle. It gives rise to four branches: the inferior thyroid artery (to the thyroid gland and parathyroid glands), the suprascapular artery (to the supraspinous and infraspinous fossae), the transverse cervical artery (to the trapezius and posterior neck), and the ascending cervical artery (to the cervical muscles and spine).
The thyrocervical trunk and its branches are key landmarks during supraclavicular and infraclavicular brachial plexus surgery, carotid endarterectomy, and subclavian vessel procedures. The inferior thyroid artery's proximity to the recurrent laryngeal nerve makes it the critical vessel in thyroid surgery: the nerve is most commonly found near the inferior thyroid artery's branches at the inferior pole of the thyroid. Embolisation of the thyrocervical trunk branches is performed for head and neck haemorrhage control.
The recurrent laryngeal nerve's most variable and vulnerable segment is at its crossing with the inferior thyroid artery branches near the inferior thyroid pole, where individual anatomical variation means the nerve may pass anterior, posterior, or through the artery's branches, requiring meticulous dissection with loupe magnification or nerve monitoring.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
