Common carotid artery

The carotid (Latin transliteration of gr [ ἀρτηρία ] καρωτίς carotid ), pl. Carotids, of καρόω ' Be moved into a deep sleep ', see καρώδης karōdēs ' stunned ' ( from the symptom of pressure on these arteries), or all of the common carotid artery, the common carotid artery. Because of its course in the neck it is often referred to as carotid artery. It runs deep in the so-called choke groove, dining and trachea accompanying the thoracic inlet to the head. In the neck area can easily feel for her pulse.

Course and branching

It arises in man as a strong vessel to the right from the brachiocephalic trunk, on the left, however, usually directly from the aortic arch. In the neck area it runs with different cable structures in the carotid sheath. In mammals ( including humans ) they eventually divided into the " bifurcation " in:

• The external carotid artery (ACE ), external carotid artery to supply the head and upper neck organs ( larynx, thyroid, throat)
• The internal carotid artery ( ICA), internal carotid artery for blood supply to the brain and the eye via the ophthalmic artery.

The height of the " bifurcation " is very individual. You can vary the projection onto the cervical spine between the second and sixth cervical vertebrae, in the majority of cases it is at the level of the fourth cervical vertebra.

On disposal of the internal carotid artery, the carotid sinus, are pressure receptors ( also Presso or baroreceptors called ), which monitor the blood pressure in the arterial system and transmit the information to the cardiovascular center in the brain and represent the receptor area for the Karotissinusreflex. In addition, chemoreceptors are found at the origin of the internal carotid artery in the so-called carotid body that monitor the content of carbon dioxide, oxygen and pH in the blood.

Diseases

Most common disease of the carotid artery is an arteriosclerotic vessel narrowing ( stenosis). This is from hemodynamic reasons in the majority of cases in the field of Carotisbifurkation, ie in the region of division into the internal carotid artery and external carotid artery. Risk factors include cigarette smoking, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and male gender. This condition increases the risk of stroke, so here at the appropriate severity surgery ( thromboendarterectomy ) or stent angioplasty can be performed. By convention, for which stent angioplasty in contrast to endarterectomy no long-term results. However, shows a large-scale randomized U.S. clinical trial ( the CREST study), which was conducted in more than 2,500 patients, the equivalence of both methods over a period of four years after randomization: Both the operational cleaning of the common carotid artery, as well as the implantation of a stent proved to be equally safe and effective methods for the treatment of vasoconstriction. Other ( European ) Studies ( ICSS, EVA -3S and SPACE ), however, indicate a superiority of carotid endarterectomy in relation to the stent- protected angioplasty, since strokes were particularly observed less frequently. Also is the implementation risk of stent angioplasty of the carotid artery just at older than 75 years old patient - this patient group is affected by vasoconstriction Most viewed - as compared to the higher operation, as well as the recurrence rate. The observed in such studies, superiority of carotid endarterectomy seems, however, some experts believe to be due on the application of stent angioplasty primarily due to the inexperience of many ( European ) vascular surgeons. The application of rigorous operational standards and protocols provided, however, seem both methods lead to comparable results.

By splitting the vessel wall layers ( dissection, carotid dissection ), it also leads to circulatory disorders and other neurological symptoms.

A morbidly increased Karotissinusreflex is called carotid sinus syndrome.