Thyroid Branches of Middle Cervical Ganglion (Left)

Origin

The thyroid branches of the middle cervical ganglion are sympathetic nerves that originated from the middle cervical ganglion. It is present in 48%-74% of the time and is situated in front of the transverse process between the fifth to seventh cervical vertebrae (Civelek et al., 2008).

Course

From the middle cervical ganglion, the thyroid branches pass anteroinferior along with the inferior thyroid artery as they approach the thyroid gland. In addition, the thyroid branches will communicate with superior cardiac, external laryngeal, and recurrent laryngeal nerves to send branches to the parathyroid glands.

Branches

There are no named branches.

Supplied Structures & Function

The thyroid branches of the middle cervical ganglion supply the thyroid and parathyroid glands.

List of Clinical Correlates

—Cervical sympathetic and stellate ganglion blocks

—Horner’s syndrome

References

Civelek, E., Karasu, A., Cansever, T., Hepgul, K., Kiris, T., Sabanci, A. and Canbolat, A. (2008) 'Surgical anatomy of the cervical sympathetic trunk during anterolateral approach to cervical spine', European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 17(8), pp. 991-995.