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The carotid artery is the main arterial vessel that supplies blood to the head and neck. It is also called the common carotid artery (Latin arteria carotis communis) because it consists of the left and right carotid arteries.
The structure of the carotid artery
Carotid artery the common consists of the left and right arteries. Left carotid artery it comes from the aortic arch, and the right one from the brachiocephalic trunk. At the level of 3-4 carotid vertebrae, the carotid artery is divided into the internal carotid artery and the external carotid artery.
Internal carotid artery (Latin arteria carotis interna) is the main blood vessel that supplies arterial blood to the anterior part of the brain. It runs without any branches from the junction of the common carotid artery to the base of the skull. Only the final section of the internal carotid artery is branched – from it run small blood vessels to the tympanic cavity, dura mater, and to the pituitary gland.
External carotid artery (Latin arteria carotis externa) is the anterior branch of the common carotid artery departing at the site of the carotid division. The external carotid artery runs down the mandibular fossa and then posteriorly from the mandibular neck. The external carotid artery branches into the superior thyroid artery, the lingual artery, and the facial artery. The ascending pharyngeal artery, the occipital artery, the posterior auricular artery, the superficial temporal artery and the maxillary artery also depart from it.
Within carotid triangle It comes out from under the front edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which makes it possible to check the pulse in this place.
The role of the carotid artery in the body
The carotid artery plays an extremely important role in the body. Provides blood and oxygen to the brain and virtually all parts of the face, head and neck. This is especially true of the external carotid artery and its numerous branches. The internal carotid artery supplies blood to the front part of the brain as well as the eyes. The largest and final extension of the internal carotid artery is middle brain artery.
From the junction of various blood vessels leading to the cavity of the skull, the so-called arterial circle of the brain (Willis circle) is formed. They create this structure end sections of the carotid artery branch of this artery, i.e. the anterior and middle arteries of the brain, the transverse artery connecting the anterior, and posterior arteries of the brain.
Other branches of the internal carotid artery have:
- branch of the wing canal – it connects, among others with branches of the maxillary artery, which allows you to create additional collateral circulation if necessary;
- cavernous sinus branch – it is a structure that carries blood, e.g. to the pituitary gland and to the trigeminal ganglion;
- cervical-tympanic branch – it supplies blood and oxygen, among others part of the middle ear.
Carotid artery disorders
The carotid arteries – both internal and external – are prone to atherosclerotic changes and thromboembolic changes. Then, the lumen of the artery is narrowed and the artery becomes insufficient, and in extreme cases even clogged. Cancerous tumors that affect the neck can also form and develop patency of the carotid arteries. Chronic inflammation of the vessels or nearby organs and lymph nodes, with secondary arterial wall fibrosis or extensive inflammatory infiltrates also have an adverse effect on the functioning of the carotid arteries.
An aneurysm or other dissection of the vessel wall may also appear in the carotid arteries. Carotid artery dysfunction can also result from traumas such as severe contusions or interruption (rupture or cutting). Occasionally, malformations also appear in the carotid arteries.
Do the most serious diseases of the carotid arteries however, it should be atherosclerosis. It is an insidious disease that destroys blood vessels and clogs their lumen. During atherosclerotic processes, fat particles, proteins and calcium salts accumulate on the walls of the carotid arteries. This causes the walls of the artery to harden, become less flexible, and the lumen of the artery gradually narrows. In this way, a given organ receives less and less blood and oxygen, which causes disturbances in its functioning. The organ demands more and more oxygen, which cannot be delivered through the artery affected by atherosclerosis. Thus, strokes and up to carotid embolism.
Certain elements, including copper, have an influence on the lower risk of atherosclerosis. At Medonet Market, you can order a copper supplement to support the cardiovascular system.
For rising atherosclerotic lesions in carotid arteries and other blood vessels, cholesterol, a soft-waxy fatty compound, is mainly responsible. If its level in the blood is elevated, it builds up on the walls of the arteries in the form of so-called deposits, i.e. atherosclerotic plaque. The arteries narrow and stiffen, making the patient with arteriosclerosis of the carotid arteries he starts to tire faster, has difficulty concentrating and remembering, and yellow thickening appears around his eyelids. Hypoxic organs enlarge and begin to fail, and blood pressure increases.
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