Question #602

The superior thyroid artery is the first branch of the external carotid artery. It arises just inferior to the hyoid bone, passes inferiorly lateral to thyrohyoid and gives the superior laryngeal branch that pierces the thyrohyoid membrane with the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve to supply the larynx.

The superior thyroid artery gives four branches in total:

1. Superior laryngeal artery
2. Cricothyroid artery – at risk during cricothyroidotomy
3. Sternocleidomastoid artery
4. Infrahyoid artery

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