Carotid artery
Synonyms
Carotid, carotid, carotid, carotid artery
Latin: common carotid artery
English: common carotid artery
definition
The carotid artery runs in pairs and supplies large parts of the head and neck with oxygenated blood.
On the right it arises from the Truncus brachiocephalicus, left directly from the Aortic arch.
Course of the carotid artery
Of the course of the Carotid artery can be based on their subdivisions in three sections divided into:
- Common carotid artery
- Artery internal carotid
- Artery external carotid
1. Common carotid artery:
The carotid artery runs without branches through the Neck area. At the side of the windpipe 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. 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 possibly 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, of the Carotid vagina. This is covered by Sternocleidomastoid muscle.
2. Internal carotid artery:
definition
The Internal carotid artery goes as posterior branch of the carotid artery in the Carotid trigonum emerged. she 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 she themselves finally im Subarachnoid space in both of you Terminal branches on.
Classification
Pars cervicalis: Beginning to 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 from eye and share the Sinus
Posterior communicating artery: Part of Circulus arteriosus, connects rear and anterior cerebral circulation
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 of the Common carotid artery. she provided largely the Head and neck soft tissues as well as parts of the bony skull and the Meninges.
course
The head artery first 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 distinguished.
front group:
- A. thyroidea superior: Supply of the upper thyroid
- A. lingualis: Supply of the tongue
- Facial artery ("Facial artery"): supply of the Facial, your pulse is on Lower jaw margin before the Masseter muscle to feel
middle group:
- Ascending pharyngeal artery
rear group:
- Occipital artery ("Occipital artery)
- A. auricularis posterior: i.a. Supply of Auriclechel and Tympanic cavity
Terminal branches:
- A. maxillary ("Maxillary artery"): gives the A. meningea media to care of the Dura mater and des bony skull of the middle fossa from
- Superficial temporal artery: superficial Temporal arteryThe pulse can be felt on the temple
Diseases of the neck artery
Narrowing (Stenosis) or Clasp the arteries supplying the brain
Is it because of arteriosclerosis to Stenosis one artery, so occurs in this vessel Undersupply on blood and therefore on oxygen on. Developed this narrowing very much slowly, so chronic, so can one over the other vessels Collateral circulation be developed. That means the care of the corresponding area is different from 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 brain supplying vessel, 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 thereby the under-supplied area.
The following symptoms can occur:
- Hemiplegia (on the opposite side)
- Numbness and tingle
- Speech disorders
- Visual disturbances
Please also read our article on this Clogged carotid artery (carotid stenosis)
Carotid artery pain
For Pain in the carotid artery area different problems are possible as causes. Most likely this is simply skeletal-muscular conditioned pain, which in the vast majority of cases can be regarded as harmless. They can be caused, among other things, by 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 anterior neck area.
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 severe, 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 be responsible for pain in the carotid artery in rather rare cases.
These include inflammatory diseases or one Narrowing of the carotid artery by arteriosclerosis, called carotid stenosis.
Carotid artery blocked
If colloquially from "Clogging"An artery is referred to, is usually the one Narrowing of the vessel by arteriosclerosis, meaning 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, that is, a blood clot, is also possible, but far less likely. The situation is different with veins, which are practically not affected by arteriosclerosis, but often 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 confirmed, 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)
