Carotid canal

Last revised by Francis Deng on 6 Apr 2022

The carotid canal is a passage within the petrous temporal bone and transmits the internal carotid artery, internal carotid venous plexus, and sympathetic plexus. Its inferior opening is called the carotid foramen and is situated anteriorly to the jugular fossa and medially to the carotid plate. The carotid canal is initially directed superiorly, then turns anteromedially to reach up to the petrous apex. It runs approximately 2 cm within the petrous bone and opens into the middle cranial fossa superior to the foramen lacerum.

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