Common carotid artery the common carotid artery ascends in the neck without any subdivision, either the external or the internal carotid being absent; and in a few cases the common carotid has itself been found to be absent, the external and internal carotids arising directly from the arch of the aorta. This peculiarity existed on both sides in some instances, on one side in others. The common carotid usually gives off no branch previous to its bifurcation, but it occasionally gives origin to the superior thyroid artery or its laryngeal branch, the ascending pharyngeal artery, the inferior thyroid artery, or, more rarely, the
Carotid triangle Carotid triangle The carotid triangle (or superior carotid triangle) is a portion of the anterior triangle of the neck. It is bounded: It is (covered) by the integument, superficial fascia, Platysma and deep fascia; Its floor is formed by parts of the -1 Thyrohyoid membrane, -2Hyoglossus, and the -3Constrictores pharyngis medius and inferior. The external and internal carotids lie side by side, the external being the more anterior of the two. The following branches of the external carotid are also met with in this space: The veins met with are: ...all of which end in the internal jugular vein Superficial