carotid (redirected from common carotid artery)

carotid /ca·rot·id/ (kah-rot´id) pertaining to the carotid artery, the principal artery of the neck.

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ca·rot·id (k-rtd)

n.

Either of two major arteries, one on each side of the neck, that carry blood to the head.

adj.

Relating to either of these arteries.

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carotid (krot´id),

n either one of the two main right and left arteries of the neck.

carotid stenosis,

n the narrowing and hardening of the carotid artery.

carotid triangle,

n See triangle, carotid.

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carotid

relating to the carotid artery, the principal artery of the neck. See Table 9.

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carotid body

a small neurovascular structure lying in the bifurcation of the common carotid arteries, containing chemoreceptors that monitor oxygen content in blood and help to regulate respiration. Called also glomus caroticum.

carotid body tumors

usually unilateral nonfunctional adenoma, chemodectoma, nonchromaffin paraganglioma, or locally invasive carcinoma which may cause deviation of the trachea.

carotid canal

transmits the internal carotid artery to the cranial cavity through the pars petrosa of the temporal bone.

carotid sheath

contains the common carotid artery, internal jugular vein and vagosympathetic trunk.

carotid sinus

a dilatation of the proximal portion of the internal carotid or distal portion of the common carotid artery, containing in its wall pressoreceptors which are stimulated by changes in blood pressure.

carotid sinus reflex

slowing of the heart rate when pressure is applied over the carotid sinus.

carotid sinus syndrome

syncope sometimes associated with convulsive seizures due to overactivity of the carotid sinus reflex.