Corpus: Thyroidea ima artery
1. Definition
The thyroid ima artery is an inconstant blood vessel in the neck region that supplies the lower parts of the thyroid gland.
2. Anatomy
The thyroid ima artery rises in front of the trachea to the lower pole of the thyroid gland. Its size varies greatly depending on the role it plays in the interaction with the other thyroid vessels for the blood supply to the organ. It can originate from the brachiocephalic trunk or, more rarely, from the ascending aorta, the subclavian artery or the common carotid artery.
The artery occurs in about 3-10 % of the population.
3. Clinic
The thyroid ima artery can lead to complications during a tracheostomy or thyroidectomy.