carotid

Meanings

Noun

• Either of the two main arteries that supply blood to the head of which the left in humans arises from the arch of the aorta and the right by bifurcation of the brachiocephalic artery with each passing up the side of the neck and dividing opposite the upper border of the thyroid cartilage into an external branch supplying the face, tongue, and external parts of the head and an internal branch supplying the brain, eye, and other internal parts of the head.

Adjective

• Of or pertaining to the carotid artery.

Origin

• Borrowed from French carotide or New Latin carōtides, from Ancient Greek κᾰρωτῐ́δες ("carotid arteries"), from κᾰρόω + -τῐ́δες, from the fact that the carotid artery supplies blood to the brain, and interruption of this flow causes loss of consciousness.