Thyroid

In anatomy, the thyroid is the largest endocrine gland in the body. It is situated on the front side of the neck at the level of C5 and T1 vertebral bodies, just below the laryngeal prominence (Adam's apple), near the thyroid cartilage over the trachea but covered by layers of skin and muscle. The thyroid is quite large for an endocrine gland - 15-40 grams in adults- and butterfly-shaped: the wings correspond to the lobes and the body to the isthmus of the thyroid. Normally it is larger during menstruation and in pregnant women.

Blood supply of the thyroid

The thyroid gland is supplied by two arteries: the superior and inferior thyroid arteries. The superior thyroid artery is the first branch of the external carotid, and supplies mostly the upper half of the thyroid gland, while the inferior thyroid artery is the major branch of the thyrocervical trunk, which comes off of the subclavian artery. In 10% of people, there is also a thyroid ima artery that arises from the brachiocephalic trunk or the arch of the aorta.

Related Topics:
External carotid - Thyrocervical trunk - Subclavian artery

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There are three main veins that drain the thyroid. The superior, middle and inferior thyroid veins.

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