The carotid artery is a major artery of the head and neck. There are two carotid arteries, one on the left and one on the right. Their accessibility and proximity to the surface makes them useful for checking the pulse. Section of an artery An artery or arterial is also a class of highway. ... In medicine, a persons pulse is the throbbing of their arteries as an effect of the heart beat. ...

From their origins and for about half their length, the carotid arteries are known as common carotid arteries. The left carotid arises from the arch of the aorta, while the right carotid arises as one of the branches of the bifurcation of the brachiocephalic artery (trunk) into the carotid and right subclavian artery. The carotids then continue along similar paths within their respective sides of the neck and skull. The largest artery in the human body, the aorta originates from the left ventricle of the heart and brings oxygenated blood to all parts of the body in the systemic circulation. ... The brachiocephalic artery (or trunk) is an artery of the mediastinum that supplies blood to the right arm and the head. ... The subclavian artery is a major artery of the upper thorax that mainly supplies blood to the head and arms. ...

At approximately the level of the third cervical vertebra, the common carotid branches into the internal and external carotid arteries. A diagram of a thoracic vertebra. ...

External carotid

The external carotid artery usually has eight branches in the neck:

1. superior thyroid artery
2. lingual artery
3. facial artery
4. ascending pharyngeal artery
5. occipital artery
6. posterior auricular artery
7. maxillary artery
8. superficial temporal artery

The latter two could be considered a terminal bifurcation of the artery; the maxillary artery is the larger of the two. The maxillary artery is the larger of the two terminal branches of the external carotid artery. ... The noun bifurcation (from latin bifurcare, to split into two forks) has several related meanings. ...

Internal carotid

The internal carotid artery has no branches in the neck. It ascends and enters the skull through the carotid canal. Inside the cranium, it gives off the ophthalmic artery and trifurcates into: A Hippopotamuss skull A skull, or cranium, is a bony structure of vertebrates which serves as the general framework for a head. ... The opthalmic artery is a branch of the internal carotid artery which supplies branches to supply the eye and other structures in the orbit: Central retinal artery Supraorbital artery Supratrochlear artery Lacrimal artery Dorsal nasal artery Short posterior ciliary arteries Long posterior ciliary arteries Posterior ethmoidal artery Anterior ethmoidal artery...

1. anterior cerebral artery
2. middle cerebral artery
3. posterior communicating artery

The latter three arteries contribute to an important anastomosis supplying the brain, the Circle of Willis. The anterior cerebral artery supplies oxygen to most medial portions of frontal lobes and superior medial parietal lobes. ... An anastomosis (plural anastomoses) is an connection between two structures, organs or spaces. ... Circle of Willis in the human brain. ...

See also blood pressure. Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vessels. ...