common carotid plexus common carotid plexus the carotid plexus is a network of intersecting sympathetic nerves which run parallel to the carotid artery into the head. they branch out from the superior cervical ganglia of the sympathetic chain. the lesser petrosal nerve receives sympathetic innervation from the carotid plexus along with parasympathetics from the glossopharyngeal nerve (cn ix). common carotid plexusdetailsidentifierslatinplexus caroticus communista98a14.3.03.003ta26644fma67576anatomical terminology