Common Carotid Artery

1. Anatomy:

   – The common carotid artery is a large elastic vessel that supplies blood to the head and neck.

   – There is one on each side of the body.

   – The left common carotid artery arises from the aortic arch, while the right one arises from the brachiocephalic trunk.

   – It ascends lateral to the trachea and esophagus within the carotid sheath, alongside the internal jugular vein and vagus nerve.

 

2. Branches:

The common carotid artery gives rise to two main branches:

     – External carotid artery: Supplies structures in the head and neck (e.g., forehead, nose, eyes).

     – Internal carotid artery: Supplies the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere and plays a crucial role in brain circulation.

 

3. Clinical Pathology:

Carotid artery disease can lead to narrowing (stenosis) or blockage.

Symptoms may include:

     – Sudden numbness or weakness in the face or limbs (often one-sided).

     – Trouble speaking or understanding speech.

     – Vision problems.

     – Dizziness or loss of balance.

     – Severe headache with no known cause.

 

 

References:

(1) Common carotid artery: Anatomy | Kenhub. https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/common-carotid-artery.

(2) Carotid artery disease – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carotid-artery-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20360519.

(3) Carotid artery: Anatomy, function, disease, and more – Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/carotid-artery.

(4) Carotid Artery Disease: Symptoms and Causes | Penn Medicine. https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/carotid-artery-disease.

(5) Carotid Arterial System: Anatomy | Concise Medical Knowledge – Lecturio. https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/carotid-arterial-system/.

(6) en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_carotid_artery.

Verifiziert von Dr. Petya Stefanova

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