Common carotid artery

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/common-carotid-artery

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the origin of left common carotid artery?Directly from the aortic arch
2. What is the origin of right common carotid artery?From the brachiocephalic trunk
3. Why do doctors feel the carotid pulse?The pulse can be felt because the artery is close to the skin. Checking it helps doctors see if the heart is beating normally and if the blood is flowing well.
4. Where does the common carotid artery split into two branches?It splits in the neck, near the top of the thyroid cartilage. The two branches are the external carotid artery and the internal carotid artery.

Atherosclerosis: The buildup of plaque inside arteries, narrowing them and restricting blood flow.
Ischemia: An inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body, especially the heart muscles.
Carotid Endarterectomy: A surgical procedure to remove plaque from the carotid artery to prevent stroke.