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

This includes conditions such as stroke, brain aneurysm, brain bleed, and carotid artery disease. Women with PCOS, endometriosis, or both faced the highest overall risk. —Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 26 Feb. 2025

The researchers then took measurements with human subjects at their carotid arteries (located in the neck), using a standard pressure cuff to take intermittent measurements. —IEEE Spectrum, 29 Aug. 2024

But never use one directly on your neck, the location of your vital carotid arteries. —Sara Coughlin, SELF, 8 Jan. 2025

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

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