The tubercle of Zuckerkandl is important in thyroid surgery primarily because it serves as:
- A A constant marker for the position of the inferior thyroid artery origin
- B The attachment site of the sternothyroid muscle that must be divided first
- C A reliable landmark for locating the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the superior parathyroid gland at the level of the cricothyroid joint ✓
- D The point where the thoracic duct drains into the left subclavian vein
Correct answer: C. A reliable landmark for locating the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the superior parathyroid gland at the level of the cricothyroid joint
Explanation
The tubercle of Zuckerkandl is a posterolateral projection of the thyroid lobe lying just cranial to the point where the recurrent laryngeal nerve meets the inferior thyroid artery. Dissecting medial to the tubercle keeps the dissection in a safe plane away from the nerve, and the superior parathyroid typically lies just above it, close to the cricothyroid joint. Recognising it also helps define the extent of the ligament of Berry and the true posterior capsule during lobectomy.
Reference: Schwartz's Principles of Surgery, 11th ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.