Artery · Head & neck
Carotid Arteries
The carotid arteries are the two large arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain and face. You can feel your pulse in them. Narrowing here raises the risk of stroke.
What it is
The carotid arteries run up each side of the neck, dividing to supply the brain and the face.
Where it runs
On each side of the neck, where a pulse can be felt.
What it does
Carry oxygen-rich blood up to the brain and face.
When things go wrong
Common problems affecting the carotid arteries
- Carotid artery narrowing (a major risk factor for stroke)
- Atherosclerosis
Education and reference only. This explains the anatomy in plain terms and is not a diagnosis. Sudden severe chest, back or abdominal pain, sudden breathlessness, or stroke symptoms (FAST) are emergencies — call 999.
Did you know?
An interesting fact
The carotid pulse in the neck is one of the strongest in the body, which is why it is checked in an emergency.
Answers
Carotid Arteries: frequently asked questions
What do the carotid arteries do?
They carry oxygen-rich blood up each side of the neck to the brain and face.
How are carotid arteries linked to stroke?
Fatty narrowing of a carotid artery can reduce blood flow to the brain or shed clots that block it, causing a stroke. Managing blood pressure, cholesterol and not smoking lowers the risk.
Related vessels
Other artery
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NHS — Blood and the circulatory system
- Gray's Anatomy for Students
- British Heart Foundation — how the heart works
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