Carotid Artery

Structure

The common carotid artery on each side ascends through the neck and divides into the internal and external carotid arteries at the level of the upper thyroid cartilage. The internal branch enters the skull; the external supplies superficial structures.

Function

The internal carotids contribute most of the blood reaching the brain via the circle of Willis. The external carotids feed the face, scalp, oral cavity, and superficial neck.

Sensors

At the bifurcation lies the carotid sinus, which contains baroreceptors that sense arterial pressure, and the carotid body, which detects oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH.