carotid

[ kuh-rot-id ]
/ kəˈrɒt ɪd /
Anatomy

noun

Also called carotid artery. either of the two large arteries, one on each side of the head, that carry blood to the head and that divide into an external branch supplying the neck, face, and other external parts, and an internal branch supplying the brain, eye, and other internal parts.

adjective

pertaining to a carotid artery.

Origin of carotid

1660–70; < Greek karōtídes neck arteries, equivalent to karōt(ikós) soporific ( kár(os) stupor + -ōtikos -otic) + -ides -id1; so called by Galen, who found that their compression causes stupor

OTHER WORDS FROM carotid

ca·rot·id·al, adjective in·ter·ca·rot·id, adjective post·ca·rot·id, adjective

Words nearby carotid

carotenoid, carotenosis cutis, carothers, caroticotympanic, caroticotympanic nerve, carotid, carotid artery, carotid body, carotid bruit, carotid canal, carotid ganglion

British Dictionary definitions for carotid artery

carotid
/ (kəˈrɒtɪd) /

noun

either one of the two principal arteries that supply blood to the head and neck

adjective

of or relating to either of these arteries

Derived forms of carotid

carotidal, adjective

Word Origin for carotid

C17: from French, from Greek karōtides, from karoun to stupefy; so named by Galen, because pressure on them produced unconsciousness

Medical definitions for carotid artery (1 of 2)

carotid artery

n.

An artery that originates on the right from the brachiocephalic artery and on the left from the aortic arch, runs upward into the neck and divides opposite the upper border of the thyroid cartilage, with the external and internal carotid arteries as its terminal branches; common carotid artery.
An artery with its origin in the common carotid artery, with branches to the superior thyroid, lingual, facial, occipital, posterior auricular, and ascending pharyngeal arteries, and with the maxillary and superficial temporal arteries as its terminal branches; external carotid artery.
An artery that arises from the common carotid artery opposite the upper border of the thyroid cartilage and terminates in the middle cranial fossa by dividing into the anterior and the middle cerebral arteries; internal carotid artery.

Medical definitions for carotid artery (2 of 2)

carotid
[ kə-rŏt′ĭd ]

n.

Either of two major arteries, one on each side of the neck, that carry blood to the head.

adj.

Relating to either of these arteries.

Scientific definitions for carotid artery

carotid artery
[ kə-rŏt′ĭd ]

Either of the two major arteries, one on each side of the neck, that carry blood to the head.