Which nerve is likely to be injured while ligating superior thyroid artery? 1. Internal laryngeal 2. External laryngeal 3. Recurrent laryngeal 4. Sympathetic chain
2...the superior laryngeal artery is closely related to external laryngeal nerve while inferior laryngeal artery is related to recurrent laryngeal nerve
The superior thyroid artery arises from the external carotid artery just below the level of the greater cornu of the hyoid bone and ends in the thyroid gland.
To its medial side are the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle and the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve.
This artery must be ligated at the thyroid when conducting a thyroidectomy. If the artery is severed, but not ligated, it will bleed profusely. In order to gain control of the bleeding, the surgeon may need to extend the original incision laterally to ligate the artery at its origin at the external carotid artery. Furthermore, the external laryngeal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve courses in close proximity to the superior thyroid artery, making it at risk for injury during surgery.
