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In anatomy, the left and right common carotid arteries (carotids) (English: / k ə ˈ r ɒ t ɪ d / [1] [2]) are arteries that supply the head and neck with oxygenated blood; they divide in the neck to form the external and internal carotid arteries.
The suprascapular artery and transverse cervical artery both head laterally and cross in front of (anterior to) the anterior scalene muscle and the phrenic nerve. The inferior thyroid artery runs superiorly from the thyrocervical trunk to the inferior portion of the thyroid gland. There is significant variation in the origin of these vessels.
The upper branch accompanies the accessory nerve to the sternocleidomastoid, and the lower branch arises near the origin of the occipital artery before entering the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Occasionally, this branch arises directly from the external carotid artery. Auricular branch: supplies the back of the ear.
The head and neck are emptied of blood by the subclavian vein and jugular vein. Right side of neck dissection showing the brachiocephalic, right common carotid artery and its branches. The brachiocephalic artery or trunk is the first and largest artery that branches to form the right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery.
In the neck, the artery issues branches to the digastric muscle, stylohyoid muscle, sternocleidomastoid muscle, and the parotid gland. [1]In the neck, the posterior auricular artery issues the stylomastoid artery which enters the stylomastoid foramen to provide arterial supply to the facial nerve (CN VII), tympanic cavity, mastoid air cells of the mastoid antrum, and the semicircular canals.
It runs down the side of the neck in a vertical direction, being at one end lateral to the internal carotid artery, and then lateral to the common carotid artery, and at the root of the neck, it unites with the subclavian vein to form the brachiocephalic vein (innominate vein); a little above its termination is a second dilation, the inferior bulb.
Segments of the internal carotid artery, delineated on an MRA of the head.. The internal carotid artery is a terminal branch of the common carotid artery; it arises around the level of the fourth cervical vertebra when the common carotid bifurcates into this artery and its more superficial counterpart, the external carotid artery.
The carotid sheath is a condensation of the deep cervical fascia [1]: 578 enveloping multiple vital neurovascular structures of the neck, [2] including the common and internal carotid arteries, the internal jugular vein, the vagus nerve (CN X), and ansa cervicalis. [1]: 578 [2] The carotid sheath helps protects the structures contained therein. [2]