Through the carotid triangle go many important structures, including various arteries, veins and nerves. The structures found within each carotid triangle are listed below.

Arteries of carotid triangle

Three major arteries are located in the carotid triangle:

Common carotid artery (Read more!) and its terminal branches
- Internal carotid artery (Read more!)
- External carotid artery (Read more!)

The external carotid artery gives the following branches within this triangle:

Veins of carotid triangle

Veins located in the carotid triangle include:

Nerves of carotid triangle

Also, several nervous structures are found within the carotid triangle, including the following:

Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) (Read more!)
Ansa cervicalis (Read more!)
Vagus nerve (CN X) (Read more!)

The vagus nerve (CN X) descends through the neck and is covered by the carotid sheath. It goes through the neck together with the internal carotid artery and the internal jugular vein, then between the common carotid artery and the internal jugular vein, going posteriorly to the mentioned blood vessels.

The nerve gives off a superior laryngeal nerve (Read more!) while descending through the carotid triangle. The superior laryngeal nerve further divides into two branches - the internal laryngeal and external laryngeal nerves.

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Content of carotid triangle