Human Anatomy: Part 2 - K. A. Diubenko, A. K. Kolomiitsev, Yu. B. Chaikovsky 2008

Special Part
Cardiovascular system, systema cardiovasculare - Special Part
Blood vessels of the systemic circulation - Arteries of the head and neck

The Blood supply to the HEAD and Neck is provided by three main arterial sources originating from the aortic arch:

1. The brachiocephalic trunk, truncus brachiocephalicus;

2. The left common carotid artery, a.carotis communis sinistra;

3. The left Subclavian Artery, a.subclavia sinistra.

1. The brachiocephalic trunk, truncus brachiocephalicus (Figs. 21 A, 22), is an unpaired blood vessel 3–4 cm in length, located anteriorly and directed upwards and to the right. Behind the sternoclavicular articulation, the trunk divides into two branches: the right common carotid and the right subclavian Arteries. In 11% of cases, the lowest thyroid artery originates from the brachiocephalic trunk, supplying the isthmus of The Thyroid Gland.

2. The common carotid artery, a.carotis communis (Fig. 22), is a paired elastic-type vessel that runs along the neck within the fascial carotid sheaths lateral to the Trachea and Esophagus, and subsequently the Larynx and Pharynx. Together with the Internal jugular vein (v.jugularis interna) and the Vagus nerve (n.vagus), it forms the primary neurovascular bundle of the neck. Within its own sheath, the initial segment of the artery is covered by the sternocleidomastoid Muscle.

The right common carotid artery arises from the brachiocephalic trunk, whereas the left arises independently from the aortic arch and is 20–25 cm longer than the right. The common carotid artery courses through the carotid triangle, where it can be compressed against the carotid tubercle (tuberculum caroticum) of the 6th cervical vertebra for temporary Hemorrhage control in case of injury. Upon reaching the level of the upper margin of the thyroid Cartilage (54% of cases), the common carotid artery divides into the external and internal carotid arteries. This division site is referred to as the carotid bifurcation. Located in the area of the bifurcation is the carotid body, glomus caroticum (2.5 mm in length). Its parenchyma contains numerous blood capillaries, neural baroreceptors that monitor blood pressure, and chemoreceptors that monitor The chemical composition of the blood. The common carotid artery does not give off any branches in the neck prior to its bifurcation.

3. The left subclavian artery, a.subclavia sinistra (Fig. 22), originates from the aortic arch and is longer than the right subclavian artery. The subclavian artery will be discussed in detail in a separate section (see p. 29).