Vessel
Common carotid artery
A paired conduit into internal and external carotid systems
High-yield
At the bifurcation, distinguish the pressure-sensitive carotid sinus from the nearby gas-sensitive carotid body. C4 is a useful approximate landmark, not a fixed level in every neck.
Overview
Each common carotid carries blood upward toward the head. In the neck it shares the carotid sheath with the internal jugular vein and vagus nerve. Near the upper thyroid-cartilage level it usually divides into internal and external carotid arteries, although the height and branching pattern differ among people.
Reference facts
- Origin
- Usually brachiocephalic trunk on the right and aortic arch on the left; arch branching variants occur.
- Course
- Ascends in the carotid sheath deep to sternocleidomastoid. The jugular vein is usually lateral and the vagus lies posteriorly between the vessels.
- Branches
- Internal and external carotid terminal branches. Additional neck branches occasionally arise from the common trunk.
- Supplies
- Conveys flow to head-and-neck tissues through its internal and external carotid distributions.
Clinical correlation
The bifurcation and proximal internal carotid are common locations for atherosclerotic plaque. Plaque-associated emboli or reduced flow can cause retinal or cerebral ischemia, but carotid disease accounts for only part of the range of stroke causes.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the common carotid artery originate?
Usually brachiocephalic trunk on the right and aortic arch on the left; arch branching variants occur.
What does the common carotid artery supply?
The common carotid artery supplies the conveys flow to head-and-neck tissues through its internal and external carotid distributions.
What are the branches of the common carotid artery?
Internal and external carotid terminal branches. Additional neck branches occasionally arise from the common trunk.
What is the course of the common carotid artery?
Ascends in the carotid sheath deep to sternocleidomastoid. The jugular vein is usually lateral and the vagus lies posteriorly between the vessels.