Five Things you Should Know About the Surgical Anatomy of the Thyroid Gland

  • The thyroid gland is located in front of the neck below the thyroid cartilage:
    • The average weight of the thyroid gland, in healthy adults, is 15 gr to 30 gr
    • It consists of two lobes connected by an isthmus in the middle
    • The pyramidal lobe, which ascends from the isthmus or the adjacent part of either lobe up to the hyoid bone:
      • Can be seen in 20 % of the patients
  • Arterial blood supply of the Thyroid gland:
    • The main arterial blood supplies of the thyroid gland come from:
      • Superior Thyroid Artery:
        • The first branch of the external carotid artery, it enters the upper pole of the thyroid on its anterosuperior surface
      • Inferior Thyroid Artery:
        • Usually arises from the thyrocervical trunk upward in front of the vertebral artery and Longus Colli muscle to the lower pole of the thyroid gland:
          • Before entering the thyroid, the artery usually divides into 2 to 3 branches:
            • The inferior thyroid artery and its terminal branches are closely associated with the recurrent laryngeal nerve at the insertion of the thyroid gland, and innumerable variations have been described, so care must be taken in all cases to avoid injuring the nerve
      • Thyroid IMA Artery:
        • An unpaired artery in the anterior surface of the trachea, which can be seen in 3% to 10 % of patients
        • It usually arises from the brachiocephalic trunk (innominate artery), and occasionally it may arise from the aorta, the right common carotid, the subclavian, or the internal thoracic artery. It supplies the lower part of the thyroid gland
  • Venous drainage of the thyroid gland:
    • A well-developed thyroid venous plexus usually drains through the inferior thyroid vein to the left brachiocephalic (innominate) vein
    • The superior and middle thyroid veins drain to the internal jugular vein
  • Nerves must be aware of during thyroidectomy:
    • During thyroidectomy, care must be taken to preserve the right and left recurrent laryngeal nerves in addition to the superior laryngeal nerves
    • The left recurrent laryngeal nerve branches from the vagus nerve, and loops under the arch of the aorta:
      • It usually ascends along the tracheoesophageal groove with a straight course
    • The right recurrent laryngeal nerve loops around the right subclavian artery:
      • It courses more obliquely and more lateral than left
    • The superior laryngeal nerve, which is a branch of the vagus nerve, takes part in the pitch of the voice:
      • It descends, by the side of the pharynx, behind the internal carotid artery and divides into two branches: external laryngeal nerve as a motor nerve and internal laryngeal nerve as a sensory nerve
      • There is a close relationship between the superior thyroid artery and the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve; therefore, it is recommended to ligate the superior thyroid arteries as low as possible on the thyroid gland to avoid injuring the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
  • Parathyroid Glands:
    • Usually, there are four parathyroid glands, which are located on the rear surface of the thyroid gland
    • The regular size of the parathyroid gland is less than 1 cm and weighs 25 mg to 40 mg
    • They are yellowish-brown and may be distinguishable from the thyroid gland
    • The superior parathyroid glands are normally located on the dorsal aspect of the upper pole of the thyroid gland
    • The inferior parathyroid glands are usually located posteriorly to the lower pole of the thyroid but are commonly found within the thymus in the neck or upper mediastinum
    • The inferior parathyroid gland is anterior and medial to the recurrent laryngeal nerve, while the superior parathyroid gland is located posterior to this plane
    • The principal arterial blood supply to both superior and inferior parathyroid glands is described as the inferior thyroid artery; there are also other blood supplies from the superior thyroid artery or anastomotic vessels of superior and inferior thyroid arteries
This image illustrates the internal neck anatomy that surrounds the parathyroid glands. References and research: 1. Photographic reference 2. Consultant Dr. Lisa Orloff, MD (University of California, San Francisco) 3. Clark A. Rosen, Deborah Anderson, and Thomas Murry. (1998.) Evaluating Hoarseness: Keeping your patient’s voice healthy. American Family Physician. See article @ http://www.aafp.org/afp/980600ap/rosen.html (accessed 17 October 2007) 4. Frank H. Netter. (2006.) Atlas of Human Anatomy. 4th Edition. See: Thyroid Glands, Parathyroid Glands and Larynx, Plates 74-78 5. Anne M. Agur, Arthur F. Dalley. (2005.) Grant’s Atlas of Anatomy. 11th edition. See: Anterior Cervical Region, pp. 749-758.
  • Lymphatic drainage of the thyroid gland:
    • In the first place, immediate lymphatic drainage is to the periglandular nodes. And it courses to the prelaryngeal (Delphian), pretracheal, and paratracheal lymph nodes
    • These lymph node groups are called central lymph nodes or central neck compartment; (levels IA, IB, and VI), and they are the most common site of metastasis from thyroid cancer
    • The central neck compartment boundaries are: the hyoid bone superiorly, the suprasternal notch inferiorly, and the medial border of common carotid artery laterally
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