The isthmus of thyroid gland which crosses the trachea between the second and fourth tracheal cartilages. The inferior thyroid arteries are located superior to the isthmus. The pretracheal fascia, inferior thyroid veins and thymus are located inferior to the isthmus. Pretracheal lymph nodes.
The thyroid gland is an endocrine structure located in the neck. It plays a key role in regulating the metabolic rate of the body.
In this article, we shall look at the anatomy of the thyroid gland – its position, blood supply, and clinical correlations.
Anatomical Location
The thyroid gland is located in the anterior neck and spans the C5-T1 vertebrae. It consists of two lobes (left and right), which are connected by a central isthmus anteriorly – this produces a butterfly-shape appearance.
The lobes of the thyroid gland are wrapped around the cricoid cartilage and superior rings of the trachea. The gland is located within the visceral compartment of the neck (along with the trachea, oesophagus and pharynx). This compartment is bound by the pretracheal fascia.