internal carotid artery (ICA)

Introduction

It may be divided into 4 parts:

• cervical
• petrous
• cavernous
• cerebral

Origin

• common carotid artery (opposite the upper border of the thyroid cartilage, C4 vertebral level)

Branches

• anterior cerebral artery (terminal branch*)
• middle cerebral artery (terminal branch*)
• hypophyseal arteries
• posterior communicating artery
• anterior choroidal artery
• ophthalmic artery

* terminal branches within the middle cranial fossa

More general terms

• artery

Additional terms

• carotid artery disease

Components

• intracranial internal carotid artery (carotid siphon)