title: The carotid artery: embryology, normal anatomy, and physiology.
abstract: The anatomy and physiology of the normal carotid artery serves as a starting point for understanding and evaluating existing and new methods for diagnosing carotid artery disease. This article summarizes the history and state of the art of carotid artery structure and function.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona 85013-4496, USA.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Dungan
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Heiserman
mesh_terms: D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D012039:Regional Blood Flow