Carotid canal

Last revised by Kajanan Nithiyananthan on 15 Jan 2025

The carotid canal is a passage within the petrous temporal bone and transmits the internal carotid artery and accompanying internal carotid venous plexus and sympathetic plexus.

Its inferior opening, the carotid foramen is located anterior to the jugular fossa, medially to the carotid plate and posteromedial to the temporomandibular joint. The carotid canal is initially directed superiorly, then turns 90o anteromedially to run horizontally 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. The pharyngotympanic tube parallels the horizontal portion of the canal anteriorly.

Cases and figures

  • Figure 1: inferior view
  • Figure 2: superior view
  • Figure 3
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