The cricothyroid artery is an important artery in the neck that supplies blood to the larynx. It is spelled phonetically as /kraɪkoʊˈθaɪrɔɪd ˈɑrtəri/. The letter "c" at the beginning of the word indicates the pronunciation of a "k" sound, while "th" is pronounced as "θ". The "y" in "thyroid" represents a sound similar to a long "i". Phonetically spelling out medical terms helps to accurately pronounce and understand the terminology, which is crucial in the field of medicine.
The cricothyroid artery is a small blood vessel that originates in the neck and supplies blood to specific structures in the throat region. It is a branch of the superior thyroid artery, which itself is a branch of the external carotid artery. The cricothyroid artery runs parallel to the upper border of the superior thyroid margin, also known as the cricothyroid ligament.
This important artery serves to supply oxygenated blood to the cricothyroid muscle, the thyroid, and the larynx. The cricothyroid muscle is located just below the thyroid cartilage, and it is responsible for tensioning and controlling the length of the vocal cords, thereby playing a crucial role in speech production.
In addition to its blood supply function, the cricothyroid artery also acts as a landmark for various surgical and medical procedures in the neck area. Knowledge of its location is crucial when performing surgeries such as thyroidectomy, which involves the removal of all or part of the thyroid gland.
Any damage or blockages within the cricothyroid artery can lead to significant complications, such as impaired voice production, difficulty swallowing, or compromised blood flow to the larynx and surrounding structures.
Arteria cricothyreoidea.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "cricothyroid artery" is derived from two components: "cricothyroid" and "artery".
The first component, "cricothyroid", refers to the cricothyroid ligament, which is a ligamentous connection between the cricoid cartilage and the thyroid cartilage in the larynx. It is responsible for regulating the tension of the vocal cords, thus influencing the pitch and quality of the voice. The term "cricothyroid" combines "crico-" (related to the cricoid cartilage) and "-thyroid" (related to the thyroid cartilage).
The second component, "artery", refers to a blood vessel responsible for carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart and supplying it to the various organs and tissues. The term "artery" comes from the Latin word "arteria", meaning "windpipe, artery".