ANGIOLOGY 215 



BRANCHES or THE CAROTID TRUNK 



The carotis communis artery springs from the carotid trunk .of 

 the brachio-cephalic. It is directed horizontally, ascending to the 

 ventral side of the neck. It then extends downward to the inferior 

 median neck region. Just after leaving its origin it gives off several 

 small branches to the bronchi and to the esophagus, and extends 

 toward the head. The carotid lies on the thyroid gland and at this 

 point touches the jugular vein (Fig. 21). At this point the thyroid 

 arteries are given off from the carotid trunk. The thyroid gland 

 also receives blood from the bronchialis artery. 



Dorsalward and near the thyroid gland the carotid artery gives 

 off a branch (the bronchialis) which accompanies the recurrent 

 laryngeal nerve, along the inferior larynx and the bronchi, and 

 supplies the lung substance and that part of the esophagus in this 

 region. 



The vertebral artery is given off from the carotid trunk, dorsal- 

 ward to the thyroid gland, and on the left side. The right vertebral 

 artery may be given off from the brachialis dextra or right brachialis. 



The inferior esophageal artery is given off from the ventral side 

 of the carotid, supplies the esophagus, extends then to the skin of 

 the neck and to the trachea, is directed anteriorly toward the 

 head and anastomoses with the vertebral artery. This artery ac- 

 companies the vagus nerve and forms a collateral artery to the 

 carotid and the vertebral artery. 



The subcutaneous colli springs from the carotid artery near 

 the thyroid gland and communicates with the inferior cervical artery, 

 which, in turn springs from the vertebral artery. 



The Common Carotid. Near the last cervical vertebra the two 

 carotid arteries occupy the same channel, to which they are attached 

 by fascia, and, lying close to the inferior surface of the bodies of the 

 cervical vertebrae, are covered by the colli muscles. Near the third 

 or the fourth cervical vertebra, the two carotid arteries separate. 

 Near the atlas each carotid divides into the carotis cerebralis and 

 carotis externa. Near this division the superior cervical artery 

 branches off. This latter artery extends down the neck in company 

 with the pneumogastric nerve and the jugular vein, supplies the 

 skin and the neck muscles, and anastomoses with the inferior cer- 

 vical artery and the subcutaneous colli artery. 



