What is the key anatomical difference between the external and internal carotid arteries?

What is the key anatomical difference between the external and internal carotid arteries?

Correct answer is B) The key anatomical difference between the external and internal carotid arteries is that the external carotid artery primarily supplies blood to extracranial structures, such as the face and neck, whereas the internal carotid artery mainly nourishes intracranial structures, including the brain. A) Incorrect. Both the external and internal carotid arteries supply blood to structures outside the cranium, but their distributions differ. C) Incorrect. The internal carotid artery does have branches within the cranium, while the external carotid artery extensively branches outside the cranium. D) Incorrect. The internal carotid artery does not typically divide into anterior, middle, and posterior arteries.

Verified by Dr. Petya Stefanova