Carotid, carotid, carotid, carotid artery
Latin: common carotid artery
English: common carotid artery
The carotid artery runs in pairs and supplies large parts of the head and neck with oxygen-rich blood.
On the right it arises from the Truncus brachiocephalicus, left directly from the Aortic arch.
The course the Carotid artery can be based on their subdivisions in three sections can be divided into:
1. Common carotid artery:
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The carotid artery runs without branches through the Neck area. At the side of the trachea it reaches the so-called. Carotid trigonum, the Carotid triangle. This is an anatomical area of the neck region that has many Vessels and annoy includes. Here too can the Pulse the carotid artery can be palpated.
The Carotid artery Splits there at the height of the upper thyroid cartilage of the larynx in the Internal carotid artery and the External carotid artery on, too Carotid fork called. The lumen of the artery is often there for the Carotid sinus expanded. A Blow on this can under certain circumstances to Knockout to lead. During its course the Common carotid artery together with the Internal jugular vein and the Vagus nerve in a Connective tissue sheath, the Carotid vagina. This is covered by Sternocleidomastoid muscle.
$config[ads_text2] not found2. Internal carotid artery:
definition
The Internal carotid artery goes as posterior branch of the carotid artery in the Carotid trigonum emerged. you provided together with their branches that eye, the entire Frontal and parietal lobes, most of Temporal lobe and Diencephalon as well as the Pituitary gland.
course
Without a branch, the Internal carotid artery to Skull basewhere they go through the Carotid Canal enters the cranial cavity in the temporal bone. There she first steps into the Cavernous sinus one, a bigger one venous cavity in the Dura mater (outer meninges). After a S-shaped loop (Carotid siphon), it arrives at middle fossa. After leaving the sinus splits you yourself finally im Subarachnoid space in both of you Terminal branches on.
Classification
Pars cervicalis: Beginning to the base of the skull
Pars petrosa: Course through the base of the skull
Pars cavernosa: Course through the cavernous sinus
Pars cerebralis: after exiting the sinus until division
Branches
Ophthalmic artery: care of eye and share the Sinus
Posterior communicating artery: Part of Circulus arteriosus, connects rear and anterior cerebral circulation
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Terminal branches
A. cerebri anterior: anterior cerebral artery, provided front brain and the Mantle edge
A. cerebri media: middle cerebral artery, provided Outside of the Cerebral hemisphere
3. External carotid artery:
definition
The external carotid artery (external carotid artery) is the front branch the Common carotid artery. you provided largely the Soft tissues of the head and neck as well as parts of the bony skull and the Meninges.
course
The head artery initially takes its way to Retromandibular fossa and pierced the Parotid gland (Parotid gland). At the height of the Collum mandibulae it already divides in her Terminal branches on.
Branches
At the branches of the External carotid artery is between a front, one middle and rear group and the two Terminal branches differentiated.
front group:
middle group:
rear group:
Terminal branches:
Narrowing (Stenosis) or Clasp the arteries supplying the brain
$config[ads_text4] not foundIs it because of arteriosclerosis to Stenosis one artery, a Undersupply at blood and therefore on oxygen on. Developed this narrowing very much slowly, so chronic, so can one over the other vessels Collateral circulation to be developed. That means the care of the corresponding area is defined by the others surrounding vessels accepted. So this clinical picture remains for the time being symptomless.
However, if there is one acute stenosis without an expanded collateral circulation or an acute closure of a blood vessel supplying the brain, it comes to stroke (Synonym: ischemic insult, apoplexy, stroke).
The Carotid artery is to the Coronary arteries at the most common affected by it. The Symptoms correspond at the same time under-supplied area.
The following symptoms can occur:
Please also read our article on this Clogged carotid artery (carotid stenosis)
For Pain in the carotid artery area different problems are possible as causes. Most likely this is simply skeletal-muscular related pain, which in the vast majority of cases can be regarded as harmless. They can arise, among other things, from an unfavorable posture, for example when sleeping. The pain felt here is usually described as pulling and occurs mainly when the head is moved.
Precise localization of the pain is often difficult for those affected because the Carotid artery in close proximity to various muscles, especially the concise one Sternocleidomastoid muscle, runs.
Much less likely, but more dangerous, is a so-called carotid dissection as the cause of pain in the front of the neck.
In this case, the pain is actually coming from the carotid artery. A dissection is a splitting of the wall layers of an artery, in this case the Carotid artery communis or one of its two branches.
When such a disection occurs, there is usually violent, suddenly shooting pain, which can even lead to unconsciousness.
In some cases, however, it is also "silent", i.e. without any complaints.
Apart from these two causes, a number of other diseases can rarely be responsible for pain in the area of the carotid artery.
These include inflammatory diseases or one Narrowing of the carotid artery by arteriosclerosis, the so-called carotid stenosis.
If colloquially from "Clogging"An artery is mentioned, it is usually the one Narrowing of the vessel by arteriosclerosis, i.e. deposits in the vessel wall which bulge into the lumen of the artery and thus make the blood flow difficult or even prevent it.
Direct "clogging" of arteries in the form of a thrombus, ie a blood clot, is also possible, but far less likely. The situation is different with veins, which are practically not affected by arteriosclerosis, but are often affected by Thrombosis, so "real clogs", are concerned.
But back to the narrowing of the carotid artery, the carotid stenosis.
Their occurrence becomes more and more likely with increasing age, until around 50% of all people in Germany are affected by a narrowing of the carotid arteries by the age of 65. As already mentioned, the cause of narrowing of the carotid artery or its branches is usually the slowly developing arteriosclerosis, which in turn is caused by high blood pressure, high blood fat levels, diabetes and smoking are promoted.
Common complications include temporary or complete strokes or temporary blindness or at least visual impairment.
Carotid stenoses are diagnosed using a combination of observed symptoms and imaging procedures such as the Computed Tomography (CT).
Once the diagnosis has been made, depending on the severity of the constriction, drug therapy or various surgical procedures are available to ensure an undisturbed blood flow through the carotid artery.
Please also read our article on this Clogged carotid artery (carotid stenosis)
