anatomy/carotid-artery·Artery
Carotid artery
Arteria carotis communis
The large artery at the side of the neck. It supplies the brain and face, and it's a good place to feel your pulse.
// Structure & location
A common carotid artery runs up each side of the neck. On the right it arises from a short vessel trunk, on the left directly from the aortic arch. At about the level of the larynx it splits into the internal carotid, which goes to the brain, and the external carotid for the face, scalp and neck.
// Function
It delivers most of the blood for the brain. At the split sit pressure sensors (carotid sinus) that constantly measure blood pressure and report it to the brain, so the body can adjust it.
// For training & sport
- Feel the pulse with two fingers beside the larynx. Press lightly and only on one side.
- Tight collars or pressure on the neck can lower the pulse via these pressure sensors and cause dizziness.
// Good to know
Plaque at the split of the carotid artery is a common cause of strokes and can be seen well on ultrasound.
// Sources
last reviewed: 2026-11-14