Editing Neck (section)

=== '''Common     carotid artery''' ===

** Origin
*** Right - brachiocephalic       trunk bifurcates into common carotid and subclavian
*** Left - arises from the arch       of the aorta
** Course
*** Posterior to       sternoclavicular joint
*** Lies within the medial part       of the carotid sheath, with IJV lateral to it and vagus nerve deep       between the two vessels
*** Lateral to the larynx and       trachea
*** Sympathetic trunk is behind       the artery and outside the sheath
** Branches
*** None
*** Bifurcates into internal       and external carotids near the great horn of the hyoid bone (C4). A good       marker is the tendon joining the two bellies of omohyoid. Deep to the       anterior margin of SCM. The facial vein also usually crosses the       bifurcation.
** Surgical exposure
*** See 'carotid       endarterectomy'