Carotid artery
Carotid artery: Either of the two key arteries located in the front of the neck, through which blood from the heart goes to the brain. The right and left common carotid arteries are located on each side of the neck. Together, these arteries provide the principal blood supply to the head and neck. The left common carotid artery arises directly from the aorta. The right common carotid artery arises from the brachiocephalic artery, which, in turn, comes off the aorta. Each of the two divides to form external and internal carotid arteries. Cholesterol plaque on the inner wall of the carotid artery can lead to a stroke.
Read Also:
- Carotid body
Carotid body: A small “body” of tissue rich in capillaries, at the spot the carotid artery branches in the neck, containing cells that sense the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in blood and from which messages are dispatched to the medulla (in the brain) to regulate the heart rate.
- Carotid endarterectomy
Carotid endarterectomy: Endarterectomy (a surgical procedure designed to clean out material occluding an artery) done on the carotid artery (a major artery in the neck that supplies blood to the brain) to restore normal blood flow through it to the brain and prevent a stroke.
- Carotid stenosis
Carotid stenosis: Abnormal narrowing of the carotid artery, often a preamble to a stroke.
- Carpal bone
Carpal bone: One of the wrist bones. There are eight carpal bones that are arranged in two rows. The carpal bones articulate (come together to form a joint) proximally (on their near ends) with the long bones of the forearm — the radius and, indirectly, with the ulna — and distally (on their far ends) […]
- Cancer, oral
Cancer, oral: A malignant tumor of the mouth area. A sore in the mouth that does not heal can be a warning sign of oral cancer. A biopsy is the only way to determine whether an abnormal area in the oral cavity is cancerous. Oral cancer is almost always caused by tobacco (smoking and chewing) […]