Great vessels of the neck Internal carotid artery (dave's notes)

Question 1

Where does the internal carotid arise? What is found at the commencement of the internal carotid?

Answer 1

Arises at the bifurcation of the CCA, C4. A slight bulge = the carotid sinus at the commencement.

Question 2

What does the carotid sinus at the commencement of the internal carotid contain?

Answer 2

The arterial wall is thin and contains baroreceptors from the glossopharyngeal nerve with respiratory reflexes

Question 3

How is the internal carotid positioned relative to the external?

Answer 3

Arises as an external relation but quickly slopes posteriorly??

Question 4

What is behind the internal carotid artery?

Answer 4

The sympathetic trunk

Question 5

Other than the sympathetic trunk, what other nerve of import is associated with the internal carotid artery?

Answer 5

The superior laryngeal branch of the vagus

Question 6

How is the superior laryngeal branch of the vagus related to the internal carotid?

Answer 6

The superior laryngeal branch of the vagus passes obliquely behind the internal carotid to reach its medial side, where it divides into internal and external laryngeal nerves.