carotid artery

noun

variants or carotid

: either of the two main arteries that supply blood to the head of which the left in humans arises from the arch of the aorta and the right by bifurcation of the brachiocephalic artery with each passing up the side of the neck and dividing opposite the upper border of the thyroid cartilage into an external branch supplying the face, tongue, and external parts of the head and an internal branch supplying the brain, eye, and other internal parts of the head

Examples of carotid artery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Drilling said doctors told police the injury to the victim’s neck was near her carotid artery. —Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 2024

Another area to check is the carotid artery on the side of the neck, just off of the center. —Julie Scott, Msn, Anp-Bc, Aocnp, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2024

For example, a large cluster of vagal neurons clings like a vine to the carotid artery in your neck. —R Douglas Fields, WIRED, 29 Sep. 2024

The carotid artery can be felt on either side of your neck, in the depression adjacent to your windpipe. —Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

carotid artery

noun

: either of the two main arteries that supply blood to the head of which the left in humans arises from the arch of the aorta and the right by bifurcation of the brachiocephalic artery with each passing along the corresponding anterolateral aspect of the neck and dividing opposite the upper border of the thyroid cartilage into an external branch supplying the face, tongue, and external parts of the head and an internal branch supplying the brain, eye, and other internal parts of the head

called also carotid

see common carotid artery, external carotid artery, internal carotid artery