Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionVariationsConditions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Anatomy
Function
Variations
Conditions
The carotid arteries are neck arteries located on both sides of the neck that supply blood to the brain and parts of the head and neck. The internal carotid artery is a major branch of the common carotid artery in the cervical (upper) spine. It is one of a pair that runs along each side of the neck and accesses the inside of the skull through an opening called theforamen lacerum.
Inside the skull, the internal carotid artery is closely associated with important nerves and brain regions. Medical conditions or trauma to the internal carotid artery can cause major health problems such as stroke,plaquebuild-up, and dissection of the carotid artery.
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What are the symptoms of a blocked artery in your neck?Seek emergency help right away if you have symptoms of a stroke, which include:ConfusionMemory lossWeakness on one side of the bodyVision problems
What are the symptoms of a blocked artery in your neck?
Seek emergency help right away if you have symptoms of a stroke, which include:ConfusionMemory lossWeakness on one side of the bodyVision problems
Seek emergency help right away if you have symptoms of a stroke, which include:
The internal carotid artery is one of many neck arteries and veins. One of a pair found on each side of the neck, the internal carotid artery branches off from the common carotid artery and works its way up into the cranium.
Its path places it right alongside brain regions associated with visual and sensory processing. At its end, it splits into the two cerebral arteries before breaking into the anterior andmiddle cerebral arteries.
This vessel can be divided into seven sections:
The primary role of the internal carotid artery is to deliver blood to the forebrain, the front part of the brain that houses:
Through its branches, this artery also delivers blood to the eyes and their related structures, the forehead, as well as the nose.
Anatomic Variations
The most common variation seen in the internal carotid artery is asymmetry of the origin of the left and right arteries. In addition, while it usually originates between the third and fifth neck vertebrae, it sometimes begins higher or lower.
A couple of other abnormalities have also been observed:
Conditions of the Internal Carotid Artery
Disorders or injury to the internal carotid artery can cause inadequate blood flow to important brain regions. This can then lead tostroke—cell and tissue death due to a lack of nutrients and oxygen.
Carotid Artery Disease
As with any part of the circulatory system, this artery can also be subject to a build-up ofatheroscleroticplaques.This causes narrowing of the artery (stenosis), significantly raising the risk of stroke. Risk factors for carotid artery disease include:
How the Carotid Artery Is Checked for a BlockageIf your healthcare provider suspects a blockage of your carotid artery, they may order tests such as an ultrasound or an angiography. Anangiographycombines an imaging test such as an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan with a contrast dye that helps the blockage show up clearly.
How the Carotid Artery Is Checked for a Blockage
If your healthcare provider suspects a blockage of your carotid artery, they may order tests such as an ultrasound or an angiography. Anangiographycombines an imaging test such as an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan with a contrast dye that helps the blockage show up clearly.
The life expectancy for someone with a blocked carotid artery can vary depending on other factors such as lifestyle and family history. Because carotid artery stenosis puts you at greater risk for cardiovascular events such as stroke, you should discuss treatment options with your healthcare provider.
Dissection
Finally, due to its location, the internal carotid artery can be injured in cases of skull fracture. If the artery rips as a result of such a trauma, it is called adissection. Basically, this is a disruption of healthy circulation, which can lead to stroke and other issues.
What does carotid artery pain feel like?Carotidyniais a rare condition that causes pain in the neck and face. It can cause sudden, severe neck pain that is usually confined to one side of the neck. The pain may travel from the neck to your jaw, ear, or forehead.Carotidynia doesn’t usually require treatment.
What does carotid artery pain feel like?
Carotidyniais a rare condition that causes pain in the neck and face. It can cause sudden, severe neck pain that is usually confined to one side of the neck. The pain may travel from the neck to your jaw, ear, or forehead.Carotidynia doesn’t usually require treatment.
Summary
The internal carotid artery is an artery in your neck that supplies blood to the brain and the neck. It is a major branch of the common carotid artery.
When plaque builds up in the internal carotid artery it can cause stroke. Stroke and other problems can also occur if the internal carotid artery is injured.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Carotid artery stenosis.Costa NR, Reis AM, Duarte D, Azevedo P.Congenital absence of internal carotid artery: an unsuspected diagnosis.BMJ Case Rep. 2016;2016. doi:10.1136/bcr-2016-218289Anagiotos A, Kazantzi M, Tapis M.Aberrant internal carotid artery in the middle ear: The duplication variant.BMJ Case Rep. 2019;12(4):e228865. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-228865Al Ahmary AY, Abdalla MK, Aly MG, Marey T.Lateralized middle ear internal carotid artery: A case report.Glob J Otolaryngol. 2018;12(5):1-3. doi:10.19080/GJO.2018.12.555848Park JH, Lee JH.Carotid artery stenting.Korean Circ J. 2018;48(2):97-113. doi:10.4070/kcj.2017.0208Sulženko J, Pieniazek P.The cardiovascular risk of patients with carotid artery stenosis.Cor et Vasa. 2018;60(1):e42-8. doi:10.1016/j.crvasa.2017.09.006Clark M, Unnam S, Ghosh S.A review of carotid and vertebral artery dissection.Br J Hosp Med (Lond). 2022;83(4):1-11. doi:10.12968/hmed.2021.0421My Health Alberta.Carotidynia: Care instructions.Additional ReadingInternal Carotid Artery. Kenhub.Hacking C., and Jones J.Internal carotid artery| Radiology Reference Article | Radiopaedia.org. Radiopaedia.org.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Carotid artery stenosis.Costa NR, Reis AM, Duarte D, Azevedo P.Congenital absence of internal carotid artery: an unsuspected diagnosis.BMJ Case Rep. 2016;2016. doi:10.1136/bcr-2016-218289Anagiotos A, Kazantzi M, Tapis M.Aberrant internal carotid artery in the middle ear: The duplication variant.BMJ Case Rep. 2019;12(4):e228865. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-228865Al Ahmary AY, Abdalla MK, Aly MG, Marey T.Lateralized middle ear internal carotid artery: A case report.Glob J Otolaryngol. 2018;12(5):1-3. doi:10.19080/GJO.2018.12.555848Park JH, Lee JH.Carotid artery stenting.Korean Circ J. 2018;48(2):97-113. doi:10.4070/kcj.2017.0208Sulženko J, Pieniazek P.The cardiovascular risk of patients with carotid artery stenosis.Cor et Vasa. 2018;60(1):e42-8. doi:10.1016/j.crvasa.2017.09.006Clark M, Unnam S, Ghosh S.A review of carotid and vertebral artery dissection.Br J Hosp Med (Lond). 2022;83(4):1-11. doi:10.12968/hmed.2021.0421My Health Alberta.Carotidynia: Care instructions.Additional ReadingInternal Carotid Artery. Kenhub.Hacking C., and Jones J.Internal carotid artery| Radiology Reference Article | Radiopaedia.org. Radiopaedia.org.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Carotid artery stenosis.Costa NR, Reis AM, Duarte D, Azevedo P.Congenital absence of internal carotid artery: an unsuspected diagnosis.BMJ Case Rep. 2016;2016. doi:10.1136/bcr-2016-218289Anagiotos A, Kazantzi M, Tapis M.Aberrant internal carotid artery in the middle ear: The duplication variant.BMJ Case Rep. 2019;12(4):e228865. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-228865Al Ahmary AY, Abdalla MK, Aly MG, Marey T.Lateralized middle ear internal carotid artery: A case report.Glob J Otolaryngol. 2018;12(5):1-3. doi:10.19080/GJO.2018.12.555848Park JH, Lee JH.Carotid artery stenting.Korean Circ J. 2018;48(2):97-113. doi:10.4070/kcj.2017.0208Sulženko J, Pieniazek P.The cardiovascular risk of patients with carotid artery stenosis.Cor et Vasa. 2018;60(1):e42-8. doi:10.1016/j.crvasa.2017.09.006Clark M, Unnam S, Ghosh S.A review of carotid and vertebral artery dissection.Br J Hosp Med (Lond). 2022;83(4):1-11. doi:10.12968/hmed.2021.0421My Health Alberta.Carotidynia: Care instructions.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Carotid artery stenosis.
Costa NR, Reis AM, Duarte D, Azevedo P.Congenital absence of internal carotid artery: an unsuspected diagnosis.BMJ Case Rep. 2016;2016. doi:10.1136/bcr-2016-218289
Anagiotos A, Kazantzi M, Tapis M.Aberrant internal carotid artery in the middle ear: The duplication variant.BMJ Case Rep. 2019;12(4):e228865. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-228865
Al Ahmary AY, Abdalla MK, Aly MG, Marey T.Lateralized middle ear internal carotid artery: A case report.Glob J Otolaryngol. 2018;12(5):1-3. doi:10.19080/GJO.2018.12.555848
Park JH, Lee JH.Carotid artery stenting.Korean Circ J. 2018;48(2):97-113. doi:10.4070/kcj.2017.0208
Sulženko J, Pieniazek P.The cardiovascular risk of patients with carotid artery stenosis.Cor et Vasa. 2018;60(1):e42-8. doi:10.1016/j.crvasa.2017.09.006
Clark M, Unnam S, Ghosh S.A review of carotid and vertebral artery dissection.Br J Hosp Med (Lond). 2022;83(4):1-11. doi:10.12968/hmed.2021.0421
My Health Alberta.Carotidynia: Care instructions.
Internal Carotid Artery. Kenhub.Hacking C., and Jones J.Internal carotid artery| Radiology Reference Article | Radiopaedia.org. Radiopaedia.org.
Internal Carotid Artery. Kenhub.
Hacking C., and Jones J.Internal carotid artery| Radiology Reference Article | Radiopaedia.org. Radiopaedia.org.
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