Question #597
Which of the following statement is correct?
The majority of the blood supply to the larynx is via the superior laryngeal artery (a branch of the superior thyroid artery) which pierces the thyrohyoid membrane with the superior laryngeal nerve and supplies from the epiglottis to the vocal cords.
The inferior laryngeal artery (a branch of the inferior thyroid artery) supplies only the lower part of the larynx.
The inferior thyroid artery is a branch of the thyrocervical trunk of the subclavian artery, the superior thyroid artery is a branch of the external carotid artery.
Venous drainage is via laryngeal veins which drain into corresponding thyroid veins.
The superior thyroid vein drains into the internal jugular vein, the inferior thyroid vein drains into the left brachiocephalic vein.
Lymph drainage of the larynx above the vocal cords follows the superior laryngeal artery to the upper deep cervical lymph nodes. Below the vocal cords lymph drainage follows the inferior thyroid artery to the lower deep cervical lymph nodes or drains directly to the prelaryngeal or pretracheal lymph nodes.