the left and right common carotid arteries branch from the neck in humans.
the left and right common carotid arteries branch from the neck in humans.
where do the left and right common carotid arteries branch from in humans?
the neck
the common carotid arteries are present on the left and right sides of the body. these arteries originate from different arteries but follow symmetrical courses. the right common carotid originates in the neck from the brachiocephalic trunk; the left from the aortic arch in the thorax. these split into the external and internal carotid arteries at the upper border of the thyroid cartilage, at around the level of the fourth cervical vertebra.
common carotid artery
there are three common variations in how arteries branch from the aortic arch. in about 75% of individuals, the branching is "normal", as described above. in some individuals the left common carotid artery originates from the brachiocephalic artery rather than the aortic arch. in others, the brachiocephalic artery and left common carotid artery share an origin. this variant is found in approximately a 20% of the population. in a third variant, the brachiocephalic artery splits into three arteries: the left common carotid artery, the right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery; this variant is found in an estimated 7% of individuals.
aortic arch