Esophageal Branches of Inferior Thyroid Artery
Rami oesophagei arteriae thyreoideae inferioris
Read moreQuick Facts
Origin: Inferior thyroid artery.
Course: Travels medially towards the esophagus.
Branches: Ascending and descending branches.
Supplied Structures: Esophagus in the neck.
Origin
The esophageal branches originate from the inferior thyroid artery as it ascends in the neck.
Course
From their origin, the esophageal branches travel medially to reach the esophagus. The then branches descend along the length of the esophagus in the neck.
Branches
The esophageal branches of inferior thyroid artery give off ascending and descending branches that anastomose with each other across the midline (Moore, Dalley and Agur, 2013). In addition, the branches anastomose with the esophageal branches of the thoracic aorta which surround the esophagus.
Supplied Structures
The esophageal branches of the inferior thyroid artery supply the esophagus in the neck.
References
Moore, K. L., Dalley, A. F. and Agur, A. M. R. (2013) Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Clinically Oriented Anatomy 7th edn.: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
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