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Left common carotid artery
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The left common carotid artery is one of the main arteries of the head and neck and arises directly from the aortic arch in the superior mediastinum.
It is the second and longest branch of the aortic arch and ascends from the apex of the arch lateral to the trachea and esophagus within the deep cervical fascia. Its right counterpart arises from the brachiocephalic trunk posterior to the right sternoclavicular joint.
The left and right common carotid arteries follow the same course on the opposite sides of the neck before bifurcating at the level of C4, into internal and external carotid arteries once they reach the level of the laryngeal thyroid cartilage.
| Terminology |
English: Left common carotid artery Latin: Arteria carotis communis sinistra |
| Definition | The left common carotid artery arises directly from the aortic arch in the superior mediastinum |
| Terminal branches | Internal and external carotid arteries |
Would you like to learn more about the main arteries of the head and neck? Then work your way through the following study unit:\
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