ABSTRACT
Thyroid gland is the largest endocrine gland supplied by the superior, inferior thyroid arteries and occasionallyby thyroid ima artery. Proper identification of thyroid gland vessels is very important in order to avoid majorcomplications during and after neck surgeries. The objective of this study was to assess variations on arterialsupply of thyroid gland and its clinical significance in human cadavers in selected universities of north Ethiopia.A descriptive survey study design was employed to assess the variations on arterial supply of thyroid gland inhuman cadavers. Sixteen formalin fixed cadavers were used during routine dissection for the medical teaching.Variations in morphological character observed in the arterial supply of thyroid gland was noted, recorded andphotographed.In the present study it was observed that, the site of the origin of superior thyroid artery (STA) was evaluated asit arose from external carotid artery in 84.4%, from carotid bifurcation in 9.375% and from common carotidartery in 6.25% the cases. Regarding to the number of STA was observed that single in all specimens. In allspecimens, the origin of ITA was from the thyrocervical trunk.The anatomic characteristics and variation of the Thyroid arteries shows the most common site of origin ofsuperior thyroid artery is from external carotid artery, whereas Inferior thyroid artery arisen from thyrocervicaltrunk and thyroid ima artery is not found