Internal carotid nerve

Internal carotid nerve is a branch of the superior cervical ganglion that accompanies the internal carotid artery as it passes through the carotid canal to enter the cranial cavity. The internal carotid nerve spreads out to form a neuronal plexus that invests the internal carotid artery, on either side. The nerve contains post-ganglionic sympathetic neurons, which are conveyed to the internal carotid artery plexus. This serves as a mechanism to distribute the sympathetic innervation to different parts of head and neck by continuing onto the branches of internal carotid artery.