Internal Carotid Artery
Original Editor - Asma Alshehri
Top Contributors - Asma Alshehri, Swati Singh, Evan Thomas and Kim Jackson
Description:
It is a terminal branch of the common carotid artery, larger than the other terminal branch (the external carotid artery).[1]
Segments:
There are seven segments according to Bouthillier classification:[1]
- C1/ Cervical segment
- C2/ Petrous (horizontal) segment
- C3/ Lacerum segment
- C4/ Cavernous segment
- C5/ Clinoid segment
- C6/ Ophthalmic (Supra clinoid) segment
- C7/ Communicating segment
This video explains the structure and branches of Internal carotid artery( ICA).
Branches:
The odd-numbered segments usually have no branches except for the terminal segment C7 which has four branches, whereas each even-numbered segment (C2, C4 and C6) has two branches:[1]
| Segment | branches |
| C1 | non |
| C2 |
1. caroticitympanic artery 2.vidian artery |
| C3 | non |
| C4 |
1. Meningohypophyseal trunk 2. Inferolateral trunk |
| C5 | non |
| C6 |
1. Ophthalmic artery 2. Superior hypophyseal artery |
| C7 |
1. Posterior communicating artery 2. Anterior chorodal artery 3. Anterior cerebral artery 4. Middle cerebral artery |
Clinical relevance:
Internal carotid artery stenosis:
It is an important cause of ipsilateral stroke. The natural history of the disease is related to the presence or absence of ipsilateral hemispheric symptoms and the severity of stenosis.[3]
Complete occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA):
It is an important cause of cerebrovascular disease. A nerve-symptomatic occlusion increases the risk of strokes.
Ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging and contrast angiography are useful diagnostic tests and functional imaging of the brain helps to understand haemodynamic factors involved in the pathophysiology of brain ischaemia.[4]
References:
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Internal carotid artery, https://radiopaedia.org/articles/internal-carotid-artery-1 (accessed 31 may 2017)
- ↑ 1. About Medicine. Internal Carotid Artery - Anatomy, Branches & Relations [Internet]. YouTube. 2021 [cited 2024 Oct 25]. Available from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQd5wimqf7w
- ↑ Lanzino G, TallaritaT, Rabinstein AA, Internal carotid artery stenosis: natural history and management, Semin Neurol, 2010 Nov;30(5):518:27
- ↑ BhomrajThanvi and Tom Robinson, complete occlusion of extracranial internal carotid artery: clinical features, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management, Postgrad Med J. 2007 Feb; 83(976): 95-99.