Left common carotid artery

Left Common Carotid Artery

The left common carotid artery and its branches.

The Left Common Carotid Artery is one of the main arteries that supplies blood to the head and neck. It originates from the aortic arch and ascends in the neck to the level of the upper border of the thyroid cartilage, where it bifurcates into the internal carotid artery and the external carotid artery.

Structure

The left common carotid artery is approximately 1.2 cm in diameter. It ascends in the neck within the carotid sheath, a fascial compartment that also contains the internal jugular vein and the vagus nerve. The artery is covered by the sternocleidomastoid muscle and is crossed by the omohyoid muscle, the sternohyoid muscle, and the sternothyroid muscle.

Function

The left common carotid artery supplies blood to the left side of the head and neck. It divides into the internal carotid artery, which supplies blood to the brain, and the external carotid artery, which supplies blood to the face and neck.

Clinical significance

Diseases of the left common carotid artery can lead to stroke, transient ischemic attack, and other neurological disorders. These can be caused by atherosclerosis, carotid artery stenosis, or carotid artery dissection.

See also

• Right common carotid artery
• Carotid artery dissection
• Carotid artery stenosis