A 46-year-old woman is admitted to the hospital with a large mass in her lower anterior neck. Ultrasonic examination reveals a benign tumor of her thyroid gland. During the procedure to remove the tumor the superior thyroid artery is identified and used as a landmark in order not to damage its small companion nerve. Which of the following nerves is most likely to accompany the superior thyroid artery?
Cervical sympathetic trunk External branch of the superior laryngeal Inferior root of the ansa cervicalis Internal branch of the superior laryngeal