US Medical Term · anatomy
Carotid Artery
Arteria carótida
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Carotid Artery |
| Spanish (Español) | Arteria carótida |
| Chinese (中文) | 頸動脈 |
| Korean (한국어) | 경동맥 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Động mạch cảnh |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Karotid na ugat |
| Portuguese (Português) | Artéria carótida |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | หลอดเลือดแดงคาโรทิด |
| Japanese (日本語) | 頸動脈 |
What it means
The carotid arteries are the main blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the brain, neck, and face. There is one on each side of the neck — you can feel the pulse in the carotid artery on either side of your windpipe. Each carotid artery divides into two branches: the internal carotid, which supplies the brain, and the external carotid, which supplies the face and neck. Plaque buildup in the carotid artery wall (carotid artery disease) can narrow the artery and block blood flow to the brain, causing a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA, also called a mini-stroke). Doctors listen to the carotid artery with a stethoscope for abnormal sounds called bruits.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
The ultrasound showed plaque building up in my right carotid artery.
El ultrasonido mostró acumulación de placa en mi arteria carótida derecha.
My doctor said a blockage in my carotid artery may have caused my mini-stroke.
Mi doctor dijo que un bloqueo en mi arteria carótida pudo haber causado mi miniinfarto cerebral.
Do I need surgery to clean out my carotid artery?
¿Necesito cirugía para limpiar mi arteria carótida?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026