excision of the lower pole of the thyroid gland. Also as the parathyroid is mainly supplied by inferior thyroid artery accidental ligation during thyroidectomy can cause hypoparathyroidism. The injection of dye into the inferior thyroid artery can be used as an alternate method in identification the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Additional images See also Glandular branches of the superior thyroid artery References External links () - "Larynx: Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve and Inferior Laryngeal Artery" Arteries of the head and neck Thyroid