Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
PLoS One. 2018 May 10;13(5):e0197075. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197075. eCollection 2018.
The superior thyroid artery, the main atrial supply of neck region, is branched from the external carotid artery as a first branch, but it may also arise from the common carotid artery and its bifurcation. The external branch of superior laryngeal nerve runs parallel to it and later crossing the artery either above or below the upper pole of the thyroid gland.
This study aimed at evaluating the variations of the origin of superior thyroid artery and its relationship with the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve.
A descriptive study was conducted on 43 embalmed cadavers. The anterior triangle of the neck region was dissected bilaterally. The presence or absence of STA and its origin, branching pattern, relationship with the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve, level of origin in relation to the lamina of the thyroid cartilage and level of carotid bifurcation were observed and recorded.
The superior thyroid artery arises from the external carotid artery in 44.2%, common carotid bifurcation in 27.9% and common carotid artery in 26.7% of cadavers. In one of the cadaver, the superior thyroid artery arises from lingual artery. The origin of superior thyroid artery was significantly associated with its branching pattern and level of common carotid artery bifurcation. The mean distance from the upper pole of the thyroid gland to the level where an external branch of superior laryngeal nerve turns medially from superior thyroid artery was found to be 1.04cm.
The wide range of variations of the superior thyroid artery on its origin and relationship with adjacent structures is a common phenomenon. The clinicians should be aware of those variations.
甲状腺上动脉是颈部区域的主要心房供应动脉，它作为第一分支起源于颈外动脉，但也可能起源于颈总动脉及其分叉处。喉上神经外支与它平行走行，随后在甲状腺上极的上方或下方穿过动脉。
本研究旨在评估甲状腺上动脉的起源变异及其与喉上神经外支的关系。
对 43 具防腐尸体进行描述性研究。对颈部前三角进行双侧解剖。观察并记录甲状腺上动脉的存在与否、起源、分支模式、与喉上神经外支的关系、起源于甲状腺软骨板的水平以及颈总动脉分叉的水平。
在 44.2%的尸体中，甲状腺上动脉起源于颈外动脉，在 27.9%的尸体中起源于颈总动脉分叉，在 26.7%的尸体中起源于颈总动脉。在一具尸体中，甲状腺上动脉起源于舌动脉。甲状腺上动脉的起源与分支模式和颈总动脉分叉水平显著相关。从甲状腺上极到喉上神经外支从甲状腺上动脉向内转弯的水平的距离平均值为 1.04cm。
甲状腺上动脉起源及其与邻近结构关系的广泛变异是一种常见现象。临床医生应该意识到这些变异。
