Left common carotid artery
Arteria carotis communis sinistra
CardiovascularBlood vesselsWhole bodyLeft side
- What it is
- Ascends in the carotid sheath beside the trachea and larynx, with the internal jugular vein lateral and the vagus nerve behind, dividing at the upper border of the thyroid cartilage (C3–C4). The left arises directly from the aortic arch, so it has a thoracic part.
- Function
- Carries blood to the head, neck and brain.
- Size
- ~7–8 mm diameter; ~12 cm long.
- Clinical note
- The carotid pulse is felt at the front border of sternocleidomastoid; the carotid sinus at the bifurcation senses blood pressure and atherosclerotic plaque there is a major cause of stroke.