Carotid, Illustration

Arterial Vascularization Of The Neck. The Arteries Of The Neck Are Mainly Composed Of Carotids, Anteriorly, And Vertebral Arteries Not Visible Here, Posteriorly. They Irrigate The Structures Of The Neck, Head And Brain. The Carotid Arteries Are Issue From The Aortic Arch. The Common Carotid Arteries, Right And Left, Divide At Thyroid Level Into Internal And External Carotids. The External Carotids Give Numerous Collateral Arteries, Among Which The Superior Thyroid Arteries, Represented Here. The Internal Carotids Give Birth To Only One Branch Ophthalmic Artery. The Path Of The Carotids Is Similar On The Right And On The Left ; The Only Difference Resides In The Fact That The Right Common Carotid Arises From The Brachiocephalic Arterial Trunk Whereas The Left Originates Directly From The Aortic Arch. See Images 1166407 For A Front View With The Thyroid, 1167007 And 1167607 For A Profile View. (Photo By BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images)