Inferior thyroid aery is related to

The inferior thyroid aery is a branch of thyrocervical trunk. It runs first upwards then medially and finally downwards to reach the lower pole of the gland. During its course, it passes behind the carotid sheath and the middle cervical sympathetic ganglion; and in front of the thyroid veebral vessels; and gives off branches to adjacent structures Its terminal pas is intimately related to the recurrent laryngeal nerve, while proximal pa is away from the nerve. The aery divides into 4 to 5 glandular branches which pierce the fascia separately to reach the lower pa of the gland. One ascending branch anastomoses with the posterior branch of the superior thyroid aery, and supplies the parathyroid glands. Ref BDC volume 3 :sixth edition :pg 143