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The carotid body is situated on the posterior aspect of the bifurcation of the common carotid artery. [3] The carotid body is made up of two types of cells, called glomus cells: glomus type I cells are peripheral chemoreceptors, and glomus type II cells are sustentacular supportive cells. Glomus type I cells are derived from the neural crest. [4]
In anatomy, the left and right common carotid arteries (carotids) (English: / k ə ˈ r ɒ t ɪ d / [1] [2]) are arteries that supply the head and neck with oxygenated blood; they divide in the neck to form the external and internal carotid arteries.
In human anatomy, the internal and external carotid arise from the common carotid artery, where it bifurcates at cervical vertebrae C3 or C4. The internal carotid artery supplies the brain , including the eyes, [ 2 ] while the external carotid nourishes other portions of the head, such as the face , scalp , skull , and meninges .
Internal carotid arteries: These large arteries are the medial branches of the common carotid arteries which enter the skull, as opposed to the external carotid branches which supply the facial tissues; the internal carotid artery branches into the anterior cerebral artery and continues to form the middle cerebral artery.
The internal carotid plexus is a nerve plexus situated upon the lateral side of the internal carotid artery. It is composed of post-ganglionic sympathetic fibres which have synapsed at (i.e. have their nerve cell bodies at) the superior cervical ganglion. The plexus gives rise to the deep petrosal nerve. [1]
The external carotid artery is the major artery of the head and upper neck. It arises from the common carotid artery . It terminates by splitting into the superficial temporal and maxillary artery within the parotid gland .
Function [ edit ] It conveys information from the baroreceptors of the carotid sinus to the vasomotor center in the brainstem (in order to mediate blood pressure homeostasis ), and from chemoreceptors of the carotid body [ further explanation needed ] (mainly conveying information about partial pressures of blood oxygen, and carbon dioxide).
The carotid sheath is a condensation of the deep cervical fascia [1]: 578 enveloping multiple vital neurovascular structures of the neck, [2] including the common and internal carotid arteries, the internal jugular vein, the vagus nerve (CN X), and ansa cervicalis. [1]: 578 [2] The carotid sheath helps protects the structures contained therein. [2]