provides blood supply to the head and neck

runs upward in the neck and divides into the external and internal carotid arteries

there are two common carotid arteries. The right common carotid artery arises from the brachiocephalic arterial trunk. The left common carotid artery arises directly from the aorta. Both rise into the neck and divide into two arteries in the middle of the neck, the internal carotid artery and the external carotid artery.