common carotid artery [L, communis + Gk, karos, heavy sleep, arteria, airpipe] , one of the major arteries supplying blood to the head and neck. Each divides into an external carotid and an internal carotid. Branches of the external carotid supply the face, scalp, and most of the neck and throat tissues. The internal carotids supply the brain and other tissues generally accessible from within the skull, as the eyes.
