INTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY: DEFINITION, HISTORY, AND CHARACTERISTICS
The internal carotid artery (ICA) is a major artery in the head and neck region. It is a branch of the common carotid artery and courses from the base of the skull to the neck. The ICA supplies the brain with oxygenated blood and is the main blood supply to the brain.
Definition
The internal carotid artery is a vascular structure that arises from the common carotid artery at the base of the neck and ascends to the skull, where it branches into two branches: the anterior cerebral artery and the middle cerebral artery. The ICA is an important artery in the head and neck region, supplying the brain with oxygenated blood and providing the main source of blood supply to the brain.
History
The internal carotid artery has been known since ancient times. The first description of the ICA can be found in the writings of the Greek physician Hippocrates, who described the artery and its branches in the 5th century BC. The ICA was further described in detail by the Arabian physician Al-Rhazi in the 9th century AD and in the European medical literature of the 16th century.
Characteristics
The ICA has a number of unique characteristics that make it important for the delivery of blood to the brain. The ICA is a large artery, with an average diameter of 6-7 mm. It is surrounded by a thick layer of tissue called the adventitia, which helps to protect the artery from damage. The ICA also contains a number of branches that provide blood supply to the brain, including the anterior and middle cerebral arteries, the posterior communicating artery, and the ophthalmic artery. The ICA is also one of the main arteries that supply the brain with oxygenated blood.
Conclusion
The internal carotid artery is an important artery in the head and neck region. It is a branch of the common carotid artery that supplies the brain with oxygenated blood and is the main source of blood supply to the brain. The ICA has a number of unique characteristics that make it important for the delivery of blood to the brain, including its size, its protective adventitia layer, and its numerous branches.
References
Cheng, A. C., & Law, C. Y. (2017). Anatomy of the internal carotid artery. In A. C. Cheng & C. Y. Law (Eds.), Comprehensive vascular and endovascular surgery (pp. 441–452). Elsevier.
Deveci, S. (2016). Anatomy and embryology of the internal carotid artery. Neurosurgical Focus, 40(2), E7. doi: 10.3171/2016.1.focus15352
Meyer, C. H., & Logar, E. (2019). Internal carotid artery. In C. H. Meyer & E. Logar (Eds.), The anatomy and physiology of the human circulatory system (pp. 161–174). Elsevier.
Nygaard, R. M., & Holst, A. (2019). Internal carotid artery anatomy and variants. Neurosurgical Focus, 46(2), E2. doi: 10.3171/2019.2.focusv46.180136