ABSTRACT
The thyroid gland lies in the central neck draped over the anterior trachea, with the isthmus sitting below the cricoid cartilage at the level of the second to fourth tracheal rings. The gland is covered by pretracheal fascia, and moves upward with deglutition. The tubercle of Zuckerkandl is a bilateral posterior tissue projection that lies over the laryngeal insertion of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and can aid in identification of the RLN during surgery [1]. Behind the tubercle, a thick fibrous band, termed the ligament of Berry, attaches the medial lobe to the trachea. The thyroid gland typically weighs 20–25 g, but its shape and weight vary widely in adults. The anatomy of the thyroid, parathyroid glands, and RLN is depicted in Figure 13.1.
