What is a Carotid Artery?

The main arteries leading up through the neck from the aorta to the head are the carotid arteries. There is one artery on each side of the neck which divides into internal and external branches to supply respectively the brain and other organs inside the skull, and the muscles and tissues outside the skull.

Narrowing of the carotid artery from fatty deposits (arteriosclerosis) may lead to a restricted blood supply to the brain and strokes or transient ischaemic attacks, says Dr. Warwick Carter in his book The Complete Family Medical Guide.