The superior thyroid artery arises from the anterior surface at the beginning of the external carotid artery. Then the artery arches downwards and, when reaching the thyroid gland, it divides into many smaller branches to supply the gland.

This artery supplies the thyroid gland, infrahyoid neck muscles, tissues of the upper part of the larynx, as well as the sternocleidomastoid and cricothyroid muscles.

The superior thyroid artery is the first side branch of the external carotid artery, arising just below the level of the greater horn of the hyoid bone. The artery descends along the lateral border of the thyroid gland.

Branches

On its course, this artery gives off the following branches:

The infrahyoid artery passes along the lower border of the hyoid bone below the thyrohyoid muscle and anastomoses with the same artery of the contralateral side to supply the infrahyoid muscles of the neck.

The superior laryngeal artery goes along with the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (it arises from the vagus nerve (CN X)). Both pierce the thyrohyoid membrane and reach the larynx to supply blood to the tissues of the upper part of it. It anastomoses with its fellow artery of the opposite side and with the inferior laryngeal branch of the inferior thyroid artery.

The sternocleidomastoid artery runs downward and laterally across the carotid sheath to supply the middle region of the sternocleidomastoid.

The cricothyroid artery crosses the anterior cricothyroid ligament to supply the cricothyroid muscle (one of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles).

The superior thyroid artery also provides many glandular branches to supply the thyroid gland and small branches to the adjacent muscles.

Note: The thyroid gland has a rich blood supply. During thyroidectomy, the superior thyroid artery requires ligation, otherwise it will bleed profusely.

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Superior thyroid artery