carotid artery

noun

variants or carotid

: either of the two main arteries that supply blood to the head of which the left in humans arises from the arch of the aorta and the right by bifurcation of the brachiocephalic artery with each passing up the side of the neck and dividing opposite the upper border of the thyroid cartilage into an external branch supplying the face, tongue, and external parts of the head and an internal branch supplying the brain, eye, and other internal parts of the head

Examples of carotid artery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In terms of damage to major blood vessels, doctors found that the blade was close to the left internal carotid artery, a major blood vessel, but didn’t seem to have damaged it. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026

The stab wounds to Snider’s neck hit her larynx, jugular vein and carotid artery, and some were deep enough to reach her spine, Arunkumar said, while the injuries to her abdomen reached her heart, aorta and liver. — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Greer’s manner of death natural, caused by moyamoya disease, a rare condition that narrows or closes the carotid artery inside the skull. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2026

She was admitted to Rhode Island Hospital with injuries that included bilateral internal carotid artery dissection, liver and spleen lacerations, multiple rib fractures, and a ruptured diaphragm. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

carotid artery

noun

: either of the two main arteries that supply blood to the head of which the left in humans arises from the arch of the aorta and the right by bifurcation of the brachiocephalic artery with each passing along the corresponding anterolateral aspect of the neck and dividing opposite the upper border of the thyroid cartilage into an external branch supplying the face, tongue, and external parts of the head and an internal branch supplying the brain, eye, and other internal parts of the head

called also carotid

see common carotid artery, external carotid artery, internal carotid artery