thyroid artery

n.

1. An artery with origin in the aortic arch or the brachiocephalic artery and distribution to the thyroid gland; lowest thyroid artery.
2. An artery with origin in the thyrocervical trunk and branches to the ascending cervical, inferior laryngeal, muscular, esophageal, and tracheal arteries; inferior thyroid artery.
3. An artery with origin in the external carotid artery and branches to the infrahyoid, superior laryngeal, sternocleidomastoid, and cricothyroid arteries; superior thyroid artery.