Also called: carotid artery
The common carotid arteries supply the head and neck. The right arises from the brachiocephalic trunk and the left directly from the aortic arch. Each ascends in the carotid sheath and divides at about the upper border of the thyroid cartilage (C3-C4) into the internal carotid, which supplies the brain, and the external carotid, which supplies the face and neck.
| Location | Neck, within the carotid sheath alongside the internal jugular vein and vagus nerve. |
|---|---|
| Structure | Right and left arteries; carotid sinus and body at the bifurcation. |
| Function | Supplies blood to the head and neck. |
| Blood supply | Not applicable (major artery); vasa vasorum supply its wall. |
| Innervation | Carotid sinus nerve (glossopharyngeal) relays blood pressure; carotid body chemoreceptors sense oxygen and carbon dioxide. |
3D model: BodyParts3D (CC BY 4.0), adult male reference anatomy. Highlighted structure shown with nearby bones for context.
The carotid pulse can be felt at the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid at the level of the thyroid cartilage.
At the level of the upper border of the thyroid cartilage (C3-C4).
The brain and the eye.
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