Carotid Artery Flashcards
Right common carotid artery is a branch of
Brachiocephalic artery
Where does the RCCA begin
Begins in the neck behind the right sternoclavicular joint
LCCA is a branch of
Arch of aorta
What is the carotid sinus
It is a slight dilatation that is present at the termination of the common carotid artery or beginning of internal carotid artery.
Carotid sinus is innervated by
Glossopharyngeal nerve
Sympathetic nerves
Function of carotid sinus
It acts as a baroreceptor and regulates blood pressure
Describe the carotid body
It is situated behind the bifurcation of the common carotid artery.
Small and oval in shape
Nerve supply to carotid body
Glossopharyngeal - main
Vagus
Sympathetic
Function of carotid body
It acts as a chemoreceptor and responds to changes in the O2, CO2 and ph content of blood
List the terminal branches of common carotid artery
External carotid
Internal carotid
Course of the External carotid artery
It begins in the carotid triangle at the level of the upper border of thyroid cartilage opposite the disc between the 3rd and 4th cervical vertebrae.
It then runs upward and slightly backwards and laterally after which it terminates behind the neck of the mandible by dividing into the maxillary and superficial temporal arteries.
Course of the External carotid artery
It begins in the carotid triangle at the level of the upper border of thyroid cartilage opposite the disc between the 3rd and 4th cervical vertebrae.
It then runs upward and slightly backwards and laterally after which it terminates behind the neck of the mandible by dividing into the maxillary and superficial temporal arteries.
