The common carotid artery refers to the main trunk of the arteries of the neck, originating from the aortic arch of the heart or the cephalic trunk, where the head and neck arteries originate. The common carotid artery is the main artery located in the neck that gives off branches that can provide an adequate blood supply to the head as well as to the tissues of the neck, and can be divided into the left common carotid artery and the right common carotid artery. The left common carotid artery originates from the aortic arch of the heart and the right common carotid artery originates from the trunk of the head and arms. The left common carotid artery and the right common carotid artery may extend upward along the trachea, esophagus, and lateral aspect of the larynx, dividing into branches, such as the external carotid artery and the internal carotid artery, at the site of the superior border of the thyroid cartilage. Accompanying the common carotid artery is the internal jugular vein, and the common carotid artery and internal jugular vein are posterior to the vagus nerve.