Corpus: Thyrocervical trunk

The thyrocervical trunk originates anteriorly from the first segment of the subclavian artery, close to the medial side of the anterior scalene muscle. This vascular trunk is usually very short and quickly divides into three branches:

• inferior thyroid artery
• suprascapular artery
• transverse cervical artery

Variations are relatively common; for instance, the ascending cervical artery may also directly arise as the 4th branch from the thyrocervical trunk.