Common carotid artery
Arteria carotis communis
Definition
The common carotid artery is a paired arterial trunk, right and left, supplying the head and part of the neck. Each artery courses cranially along the neck and divides into the internal and external carotid arteries, thereby distributing oxygenated blood to both intracranial and extracranial structures.
It arises from the brachiocephalic trunk, either directly or through a bicarotid trunk when present, depending on the species. The right and left common carotid arteries run parallel within the cervical region, usually within the carotid sheath, in association with the vagus nerve and the internal jugular vein when it is developed.
References
Illustrated Veterinary Anatomical Nomenclature - 3rd edition - Gheorghe M. Constantinescu, Oskar Schaller - Enke
