Anatomical relations

The thyroid gland is related to numerous structures, including the following ones: infrahyoid muscle and superficial neck muscles (sternothyroid muscle, sternohyoid muscle, sternocleidomastoid muscle, and superior belly of the omohyoid muscle), carotid sheath containing the common carotid artery, internal jugular vein, and vagus nerve (CN X), prevertebral fascia, spine and parathyroid glands, cricothyroid muscle, larynx (cricoid cartilage and thyroid cartilage), recurrent laryngeal nerve, external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve, trachea, and esophagus.