sisäkaulavaltimokset

Sisäkaulavaltimokset, scientifically known as the internal carotid arteries, are a pair of major arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain and the face. They originate from the common carotid arteries, which typically bifurcate at the level of the thyroid cartilage. The internal carotid artery then ascends within the neck, passing through the carotid canal in the temporal bone of the skull, before entering the cranial cavity.

Upon entering the skull, the internal carotid artery branches into several significant vessels. Its primary branches include the anterior cerebral artery and the middle cerebral artery, which together supply a large portion of the cerebral hemispheres. It also gives rise to the ophthalmic artery, supplying the eye and orbit, and various smaller branches that contribute to the blood supply of the brain's deeper structures and the pituitary gland. The intricate network of arteries formed by the internal carotid and its branches is crucial for maintaining brain function and preventing neurological damage. Blockages or narrowing of these arteries, often due to atherosclerosis, can lead to stroke.