Cervical portion
Encyclopedia
The Cervical portion of the internal carotid begins at the bifurcation of the common carotid, opposite the upper border of the thyroid cartilage
, and runs perpendicularly upward, in front of the transverse processes of the upper three cervical vertebræ, to the carotid canal
in the petrous portion
of the temporal bone
.
It is comparatively superficial at its commencement, where it is contained in the carotid triangle, and lies behind and lateral to the external carotid, overlapped by the Sternocleidomastoideus, and covered by the deep fascia
, Platysma, and integument: it then passes beneath the parotid gland
, being crossed by the hypoglossal nerve
, the Digastricus and Stylohyoideus, and the occipital
and posterior auricular
arteries.
Higher up, it is separated from the external carotid by the Styloglossus
and Stylopharyngeus, the tip of the styloid process
and the stylohyoid ligament
, the glossopharyngeal nerve
and the pharyngeal branch
of the vagus.
It is in relation, behind, with the Longus capitis, the superior cervical ganglion
of the sympathetic trunk
, and the superior laryngeal nerve
; laterally, with the internal jugular vein
and vagus nerve
, the nerve lying on a plane posterior to the artery; medially, with the pharynx
, superior laryngeal nerve
, and ascending pharyngeal artery
.
At the base of the skull
the glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory
, and hypoglossal nerves lie between the artery and the internal jugular vein
.
Thyroid cartilage
The thyroid cartilage is the largest of the nine cartilages that make up the laryngeal skeleton, the cartilage structure in and around the trachea that contains the larynx....
, and runs perpendicularly upward, in front of the transverse processes of the upper three cervical vertebræ, to the carotid canal
Carotid canal
On the interior surface of the temporal bone, behind the rough surface of the apex, is the large circular aperture of the carotid canal, which ascends at first vertically, and then, making a bend, runs horizontally forward and medialward.-Contents:...
in the petrous portion
Petrous portion
Petrous portion can refer to:* Petrous portion of the temporal bone* Petrous portion of the internal carotid artery...
of the temporal bone
Temporal bone
The temporal bones are situated at the sides and base of the skull, and lateral to the temporal lobes of the cerebrum.The temporal bone supports that part of the face known as the temple.-Parts:The temporal bone consists of four parts:* Squama temporalis...
.
It is comparatively superficial at its commencement, where it is contained in the carotid triangle, and lies behind and lateral to the external carotid, overlapped by the Sternocleidomastoideus, and covered by the deep fascia
Deep fascia
Deep fascia is a layer of fascia which can surround individual muscles, and divide groups of muscles into compartments....
, Platysma, and integument: it then passes beneath the parotid gland
Parotid gland
The paired parotid glands are the largest of the salivary glands. They are each found wrapped around the mandibular ramus, and secrete saliva through Stensen's ducts into the oral cavity, to facilitate mastication and swallowing and to begin the digestion of starches.-Location:The parotid glands...
, being crossed by the hypoglossal nerve
Hypoglossal nerve
The hypoglossal nerve is the twelfth cranial nerve , leading to the tongue. The nerve arises from the hypoglossal nucleus and emerges from the medulla oblongata in the preolivary sulcus separating the olive and the pyramid. It then passes through the hypoglossal canal...
, the Digastricus and Stylohyoideus, and the occipital
Occipital
The word occipital, in zoology, pertains to the occiput .Occipital is a descriptor for several areas of animal & human anatomy.*External occipital protuberance* Internal occipital crest* Greater occipital nerve...
and posterior auricular
Posterior auricular
Posterior auricular can refer to:* Posterior auricular artery* Posterior auricular muscle* Posterior auricular vein...
arteries.
Higher up, it is separated from the external carotid by the Styloglossus
Styloglossus
The Styloglossus, the shortest and smallest of the three styloid muscles, arises from the anterior and lateral surfaces of the styloid process, near its apex, and from the stylomandibular ligament....
and Stylopharyngeus, the tip of the styloid process
Styloid process
In anatomy, a styloid process , usually serving as points of attachment for muscles, refers to the slender, pointed process of :* temporal bone of the skull - Temporal styloid process...
and the stylohyoid ligament
Stylohyoid ligament
In connection with the stylohyoideus muscle a ligamentous band, the stylohyoid ligament, may be described.It is a fibrous cord, which is attached to the tip of the styloid process of the temporal bone and the lesser cornu of the hyoid bone....
, the glossopharyngeal nerve
Glossopharyngeal nerve
The glossopharyngeal nerve is the ninth of twelve pairs of cranial nerves . It exits the brainstem out from the sides of the upper medulla, just rostral to the vagus nerve...
and the pharyngeal branch
Pharyngeal branch
Pharyngeal branch can refer to any one of several different structures near the pharynx:* Nerves** Pharyngeal branch of vagus nerve - "ramus pharyngeus nervi vagi"...
of the vagus.
It is in relation, behind, with the Longus capitis, the superior cervical ganglion
Superior cervical ganglion
The superior cervical ganglion , the largest of the cervical ganglia, is placed opposite the second and third cervical vertebræ. It contains neurons that supply sympathetic innervation to the face....
of the sympathetic trunk
Sympathetic trunk
The sympathetic trunks are a paired bundle of nerve fibers that run from the base of the skull to the coccyx.-Structure:...
, and the superior laryngeal nerve
Superior laryngeal nerve
The superior laryngeal nerve is a branch of the vagus nerve. It arises from the middle of the ganglion nodosum and in its course receives a branch from the superior cervical ganglion of the sympathetic....
; laterally, with the internal jugular vein
Internal jugular vein
The two internal jugular veins collect the blood from the brain, the superficial parts of the face, and the neck.-Path:On both sides and at the base of the brain, the inferior petrosal sinus and the sigmoid sinus join to form the internal jugular vein...
and vagus nerve
Vagus nerve
The vagus nerve , also called pneumogastric nerve or cranial nerve X, is the tenth of twelve paired cranial nerves...
, the nerve lying on a plane posterior to the artery; medially, with the pharynx
Pharynx
The human pharynx is the part of the throat situated immediately posterior to the mouth and nasal cavity, and anterior to the esophagus and larynx. The human pharynx is conventionally divided into three sections: the nasopharynx , the oropharynx , and the laryngopharynx...
, superior laryngeal nerve
Superior laryngeal nerve
The superior laryngeal nerve is a branch of the vagus nerve. It arises from the middle of the ganglion nodosum and in its course receives a branch from the superior cervical ganglion of the sympathetic....
, and ascending pharyngeal artery
Ascending pharyngeal artery
The ascending pharyngeal artery, the smallest branch of the external carotid, is a long, slender vessel, deeply seated in the neck, beneath the other branches of the external carotid and under the Stylopharyngeus...
.
At the base of the skull
Base of the skull
The base of skull is the most inferior area of the skull, composed of the endocranium and lower parts of the skull roof.-Bones:*Ethmoid bone*Sphenoid bone*Occipital bone*Frontal bone*Parietal bone*Temporal bone**Petrous portion of the temporal bone...
the glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory
Accessory nerve
In anatomy, the accessory nerve is a nerve that controls specific muscles of the shoulder and neck. As part of it was formerly believed to originate in the brain, it is considered a cranial nerve...
, and hypoglossal nerves lie between the artery and the internal jugular vein
Internal jugular vein
The two internal jugular veins collect the blood from the brain, the superficial parts of the face, and the neck.-Path:On both sides and at the base of the brain, the inferior petrosal sinus and the sigmoid sinus join to form the internal jugular vein...
.