[ Up ] [ The skin ] [ Heart ] [ Thorax ] [ Abdominal wall ] [ Gastrointestinal tract ] [ Stomach ] [ Small intestine ] [ Large intestine ] [ Liver and pancreas ] [ Upper renal tract ] [ Lower renal tract ] [ Inguinal canal ] [ Head & neck ] [ Arteries of the head & neck ] [ Thyroid ] [ Arteries of the upper limb ] [ Nerves of the upper limb ] [ Joints of the upper limb ] [ Muscles of the upper limb ] [ Bones of the upper limb ] [ Lower limb general ] [ Nerves of the lower limb ] [ Arteries of the lower limb ] [ Veins of the lower limb ] [ Joints of the lower limb ] [ Muscles of the lower limb ] [ Pituitary gland ] [ Brachial plexus ]

Development

• Thyroid gland develops from the floor of embryological pharynx
• Diverticulum known as thyroglossal duct invaginates
• Becomes bilobed to form the thyroid lobes
• Site corresponds to junction of anterior two thirds and posterior one third of tongue and is known as foramen caecum

Anatomy

Relations

• Lies below thyroid cartilage
• Carotid sheath is posterior and lateral
• Parathyroids lie posterior
• Recurrent laryngeal nerve and external laryngeal nerve lie medially
• Recurrent laryngeal nerve is closely related to the inferior thyroid artery
• The two lobes connected at an isthmus

Arterial supply

• Superior thyroid artery is a branch of the external carotid
• Inferior thyroid artery is a branch of the thyrocervical trunk
• The thyrocervical artery is a branch the subclavian artery

Venous drainage

• Superior thyroid vein drains into the internal jugular vein
• Middle thyroid vein drains into the internal jugular vein
• Inferior thyroid vein drains into the brachiocephalic

Lymph drainage

• Deep cervical nodes

Author:  Dr Shakeeb Khan

Last updated: 05 January 2008

Copyright © 1997- 2008 Surgical-tutor.org.uk