Carotid Arteries

About the Carotid Arteries

The carotid arteries are the main blood vessels supplying the head and neck. The right common carotid artery arises from the brachiocephalic trunk and the left directly from the aortic arch. Each ascends in the neck and divides at about the level of the upper border of the thyroid cartilage into the internal carotid artery, which enters the skull to supply most of the cerebral hemispheres and the eye, and the external carotid artery, which supplies the face, scalp, and neck. The carotid pulse can be felt beside the windpipe. At the bifurcation lie the carotid sinus, which senses blood pressure, and the carotid body, which senses blood oxygen levels. The bifurcation is a common site for atherosclerotic plaque, and narrowing, called carotid stenosis, is an important cause of stroke and transient ischemic attack. Treatments for significant stenosis include carotid endarterectomy and stenting. Tears in the artery wall, called carotid dissection, are a recognized cause of stroke in younger adults.