Browse the corpus

Walk the Even Hospital Database by book and chapter — the raw source passages that ground Ask, DDx, and the rest.

1 passage

introductionstatpearls· Introduction· item NBK545238

The head and neck receive the majority of their arterial blood supply from the carotid and vertebral arteries. The common carotid arteries (CCAs) constitute the primary vessels delivering blood to the brain and face. The right CCA originates from the brachiocephalic artery in the neck, whereas the left CCA arises from the aortic arch in the thorax (see Images. Carotid Region Anatomy; Branches of the Aorta; Thyroid Arteries, Veins, and Muscles, Posterior View).[1] Both arteries bifurcate at the level of the carotid sinus into the internal carotid artery (ICA), which supplies intracranial structures, and the external carotid artery (ECA), which supplies the neck and face.[2] The CCAs are critical landmarks in vascular, neurosurgical, and head-and-neck procedures, as inadvertent injury can result in cerebral ischemia or hemorrhage. Detailed knowledge of the carotid bifurcation, carotid sinus, and surrounding structures informs safe catheterization, endarterectomy, and trauma management. Mastery of the physiological and anatomical properties of these blood vessels allows clinicians to interpret findings from carotid auscultation, Doppler imaging, and blood pressure modulation accurately.