The carotid tubercle or tubercle of Chassaignac refers to the paired anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the sixth cervical vertebrae 1. The carotid tubercle serves as an important landmark with respect to performing regional anesthesia such as a brachial plexus and cervical plexus block and is a firm structure against which carotid massage can be performed. It can also serve as a marker to determine an appropriate surgical incision site when performing anterior cervical surgery 1,2.
Gross anatomy
The carotid tubercle separates the common carotid artery from the vertebral artery and it forms the apex of the colliscalene triangle.
Attachments
Musculotendinous
- site of insertion of the lower fibers (inferior oblique portion) of the longus colli muscle (in addition to the anterior tubercles of the transverse process of C5)
- scalenus anterior muscle also originates from the carotid tubercles (in addition to the anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of C3-C5)
- longus capitis originates from the carotid tubercles (in addition to the anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of C3-C5)
History and anatomy
The carotid tubercle is also known as the Chassaignac tubercle, as it is named after the French physician Edouard Chassaignac.
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.