What is the carotid artery?
The carotid artery is called the common carotid artery. Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes it as a large artery on each side of the neck.
What it is
- A large artery on each side of the neck.
- Divides into an internal branch (to the brain) and an external branch (to the face and scalp).
- Its pulse can be felt easily beside the trachea.
Where it is
- Runs up each side of the neck.
- Arises from the arch of the aorta on the left, and from the brachiocephalic artery on the right.
- Divides at the upper border of the thyroid cartilage.
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Last verified: 2026-07-18
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