High Division of Common Carotid Artery

The common carotid artery external carotid artery, internal carotid artery are the main arterial supplies to head and nick. The common carotid artery diverges laterally behind the sterno – clavicular joint to the level of upper border of thyroid cartilage of the larynx (C₃-C₄ Jn), where it divides into the external and internal carotid arteries.

During routine dissection of Anterior triangle of neck we found this variation. The CCA bifurcation level was measured in relation to clinically relevant anatomical landmark i.e, superior level of thyroid cartilage.

In Present case bifurcation was about 1.5 cms above the superior border of thyroid cartilage. Superior thyroid artery arises from common carotid artery at higher level running downwards to supply thyroid gland.

The Knowledge of this kind of variation is of great importance in radiological examinations and surgery like percutaneous angiography.