Sisäkaulavaltimo

Sisäkaulavaltimo, also known as the internal carotid artery, is a major artery in the neck that supplies blood to the brain. It arises from the bifurcation of the common carotid artery, typically at the level of the thyroid cartilage, and travels upwards within the carotid sheath. After ascending through the neck, it enters the skull through the carotid canal in the temporal bone.

Once inside the cranial cavity, the internal carotid artery branches into several key vessels that perfuse the brain. Its primary terminal branches are the anterior cerebral artery and the middle cerebral artery. The anterior cerebral artery supplies the medial surfaces of the frontal and parietal lobes, while the middle cerebral artery supplies most of the lateral surface of the cerebral hemisphere. The internal carotid artery also gives off the ophthalmic artery, which supplies the eye and orbit, and the posterior communicating artery, which connects the anterior and posterior cerebral circulation.

The internal carotid artery plays a vital role in maintaining cerebral perfusion. Blockage or narrowing of this artery, often due to atherosclerosis, can lead to stroke, a serious condition that occurs when blood supply to the brain is interrupted. Conditions affecting the internal carotid artery are a significant cause of cerebrovascular disease.