[Study of the relations between recurrent nerve and inferior thyroid artery (author's transl)]

The importance of a knowledge of the relations between recurrent nerve and inferior thyroid artery, in order to minimise the incidence of injuries to the nerve during thyroidectomy, is stressed. These relations are analysed from the anatomo-surgical standpoint, with particular emphasis on the great variability to which they are subject. It is concluded by asserting the utility of prior location of the recurrent nerve, with an indication of some basic concepts that must always be borne in mind when performing thyroid surgery.