Vascular anatomy · USMLE Step 1

During thyroid surgery, careless ligation of the superior thyroid artery may damage which nerve?

  1. Recurrent laryngeal nerve
  2. External branch of superior laryngeal nerve
  3. Internal branch of superior laryngeal nerve
  4. Glossopharyngeal nerve
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Correct answer: External branch of superior laryngeal nerve

The external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve travels close to the superior thyroid artery. Damage affects pitch modulation due to cricothyroid dysfunction.

Difficulty: Medium Question 5 of 20

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