Carotid

Carotid
Pertaining to the carotid artery and the area near that key artery located in the front of the neck though which blood from the heart goes to the brain. There are 2 carotid arteries — the right and left common carotid arteries — on each side of the neck. Together, the right and left common carotid arteries provide the principal blood supply to the head and neck. The left common carotid arises directly from the aorta (the huge artery that comes from the heart). The right common carotid artery arises from the brachiocephalic artery which, in turn, comes off the aorta. Each of the two common carotid arteries divides to form external and internal carotid arteries. The external carotids are more superficial (closer to the surface) than the internal carotids (which run deep within the neck). Cholesterol plaques on the inner wall of the carotid artery can lead to strokes. Carotid comes from the Greek "karotides" which referred to the main arteries going to the head. Interestingly, "karotides" was related to the words "katotikos", stupefying and "karos", deep sleep. The ancient Greeks knew that firm pressure on the carotid arteries produced "deep sleep" by rendering a person unconscious. "Karotides" also led to the Spanish word "garrote", a term that has entered English, designating both a method of execution by strangulation and the implement (such as a wire, for example, with a handle at each end) used to garrote someone. Garroting caused "deep sleep" (insensibility) and, often, "permanent sleep" (death).
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Pertaining to any c. structure. [G. karotides, the c. arteries, fr. karoo, to put to sleep (because compression of the c. artery results in unconsciousness)]

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ca·rot·id kə-'rät-əd adj of, situated near, or involving a carotid artery <\carotid arteriography>

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ca·rot·id (kə-rotґid) [Gr. karōtis, from karos deep sleep] pertaining to the principal artery of the neck (arteria carotis communis).

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Carotid — Ca*rot id, Carotidal Ca*rot id*al, a. (Anat.) Pertaining to, or near, the carotids or one of them; as, the carotid gland. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • carotid — [kə rät′id] adj. [Gr karōtis, pl. karōtides, the two great arteries of the neck < karoun, to plunge into sleep or stupor: so called because compression of these was believed to cause unconsciousness] designating, of, or near either of the two… …   English World dictionary

  • Carotid — Ca*rot id, n. [Gr. ?, pl., from ? heavy sleep: cf. F. carotide. The early Greeks believed that these arteries in some way caused drowsiness.] (Anat.) One of the two main arteries of the neck, by which blood is conveyed from the aorta to the head …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • carotid — 1540s, pertaining to the two great arteries of the neck, from Gk. karotides, pl. of karotis, from karoun plunge into sleep or stupor, since compression of these arteries was believed to cause unconsciousness (Galen). But if this is folk etymology …   Etymology dictionary

  • carotid — ► ADJECTIVE Anatomy ▪ relating to the two main arteries carrying blood to the head and neck. ORIGIN from Greek kar tides, plural of kar tis drowsiness, stupor (because compression of these arteries was thought to cause stupor) …   English terms dictionary

  • carotid — adjective Etymology: French or Greek; French carotide, from Greek karōtides carotid arteries, from karoun to stupefy; akin to Greek kara head more at cerebral Date: 1543 of, relating to, or being the chief artery or pair of arteries that pass up… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • carotid — carotidal, adj. /keuh rot id/, Anat. n. 1. 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… …   Universalium

  • carotid — 1. noun /kəˈɹɒt.ɪd,kəˈɹɒ.tɪd/ A number of major arteries in the head and neck. Syn: carotid artery 2. adjective /kəˈɹɒt.ɪd,kəˈɹɒ.tɪd/ Relating to these arteries …   Wiktionary

  • carotid — ca•rot•id [[t]kəˈrɒt ɪd[/t]] n. 1) anat. Also called carot′id ar tery. either of two large arteries, one on each side of the neck, that carry blood from the aorta to the head 2) anat. pertaining to a carotid artery • Etymology: 1660–70; < Gk… …   From formal English to slang

  • Carotid endarterectomy — (CEA) is a surgical procedure used to correct carotid stenosis (narrowing of the carotid artery lumen by atheroma), used particularly when this causes medical problems, such as transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs …   Wikipedia

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