What is located anterior to the internal carotid artery (ICA)?

The external carotid artery (ECA) is situated anterior to the internal carotid artery (ICA) as they both arise from the common carotid artery. Anatomically, the common carotid artery bifurcates into the ICA and ECA at the level of the upper border of the thyroid cartilage, around the C4 vertebra. After this bifurcation, the ECA travels upward and slightly more anterior than the ICA.

Understanding the relationship between these vascular structures is crucial for surgical procedures and imaging interpretations in the neck region. The ECA supplies blood to regions of the face and neck, while the ICA, which is positioned more posteriorly, supplies blood to the brain and eyes. This positional relationship is fundamental in clinical practices such as carotid endarterectomy and in imaging studies like ultrasound or CT angiography, where identifying these arteries' locations accurately is essential.