The bicarotid trunk arises from the brachiocephalic trunk and runs cranially before branching into the '''common carotid arteries'''. The common carotid arteries ascend either side of the trachea together with the recurrent laryngeal nerve and vagosympathetic trunk. They supply small branches to the trachea, oesophagus and adjacent muscles. Major branches are the '''cranial and caudal thyroid arteries'''. The cranial thyroid artery gives rise to the '''cranial laryngeal artery''' and '''ascending pharyngeal artery'''. The common carotid artery ends by dividing into '''internal and external carotid arteries''' and the '''occipital artery'''. | The bicarotid trunk arises from the brachiocephalic trunk and runs cranially before branching into the '''common carotid arteries'''. The common carotid arteries ascend either side of the trachea together with the recurrent laryngeal nerve and vagosympathetic trunk. They supply small branches to the trachea, oesophagus and adjacent muscles. Major branches are the '''cranial and caudal thyroid arteries'''. The cranial thyroid artery gives rise to the '''cranial laryngeal artery''' and '''ascending pharyngeal artery'''. The common carotid artery ends by dividing into '''internal and external carotid arteries''' and the '''occipital artery'''. |