Carotid artery stenosis Carotid artery stenosis Carotid artery stenosis is a narrowing or constriction of any part of the carotid arteries, usually caused by atherosclerosis. The common carotid artery is the large artery whose pulse can be felt on both sides of the neck under the jaw. On the right side it starts from the brachiocephalic artery (a branch of the aorta), and on the left side the artery comes directly off the aortic arch. At the throat it forks into the internal carotid artery and the external carotid artery. The internal carotid artery supplies the brain, and the external carotid artery supplies
Striate arteries Striate arteries Striate arteries or ganglionic arteries arise from the middle cerebral artery and supply deep structures in the cerebrum, including the internal capsule and reticular formation. Strokes in these vessels are common and can cause extensive damage. This is because emboli are carried up the carotid and tend to be swept into the MCA, sometimes called the "artery of stroke", and are prone to getting stuck at this branch point in the lateral sulcus. The middle cerebral artery (MCA) is a large-diameter vessel that branches at an acute angle from the internal carotid artery. The MCA passes laterally just