BiologyCoachOnlineBlog

Last week's #MysteryAnatomy structure was the Common Carotid Artery.

The common carotid arteries supply the head and neck with oxygenated blood. The common carotid arteries are present on the left and right sides of the body. They subsequently divide into the external and internal carotid arteries. [The external branches supply blood to the face and scalp while the internal branches service the left and right sides of the brain.] The average diameters of the common carotids in adult males and females are 6.5 mm and 6.1 mm respectively. The common carotid artery is often used in measuring the pulse in patients who are in shock. [The pulse is taken by palpating the artery just deep to the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle at the level of the superior border of the thyroid cartilage.]

Carotid stenosis is a narrowing or constriction of the carotid artery. Carotid stenosis is often the result of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis - or "hardening of the arteries" - is caused by an inflammatory response due to the chronic presence of low-density lipoproteins - or LDLs - that carry cholesterol and triglycerides. These LDLs promote an accumulation of white blood cells (WBCs) which, in turn, build-up as plaques on the inner walls of the arteries. The plaques reduce the flexibility of the arteries and, over time, may lead to a restriction in blood flow (which can trigger an increase in blood pressure and eventually - if left untreated - complete blockage of blood flow).