Common carotid artery: anatomy, location and function

What it is

The common carotid artery is the main artery of the neck and splits into the external and internal carotid arteries.

Location

The right arises from the brachiocephalic trunk and the left directly from the aortic arch. Each ascends in the carotid sheath beside the trachea and larynx and divides at the level of the upper border of the thyroid cartilage (about C4) into external and internal carotid arteries.

Function

It supplies the head and neck, the external carotid to the face and scalp and the internal carotid to the brain and eye.

Body system

Cardiovascular · paired (left and right)

FMA ID

FMA4058 (Foundational Model of Anatomy)

Key facts

• Its pulse can be felt beside the larynx.
• The carotid sinus at its end contains baroreceptors.
• The carotid sheath also contains the internal jugular vein laterally and the vagus nerve behind and between the vessels.

Clinical relevance

Atherosclerosis at its bifurcation is a major cause of stroke.

The nearest named structures in the 3D model, measured from the centre of each part:

• Trachea · respiratory
• Internal jugular vein · cardiovascular
• Sternothyroid · muscular
• Brachiocephalic artery · cardiovascular
• First rib · skeletal
• Inferior oblique part of longus colli · muscular
• Thyrocervical trunk · cardiovascular
• Brachiocephalic vein · cardiovascular
• Superior intercostal artery · cardiovascular
• Costocervical trunk · cardiovascular