A 58-year-old man with hypertension has his carotid pulse palpated just below the angle of the jaw during a routine examination. At which vertebral level does the common carotid artery normally bifurcate into the internal and external carotid arteries?
- A C3
- B C5
- C C4 ✓
- D C6
Correct answer: C. C4
Explanation
The common carotid artery bifurcates at the level of the upper border of the thyroid cartilage, which corresponds to the B4 vertebra (the disc between B3 and B4 is often quoted in imaging texts, but Indian exam convention accepts B4). The bifurcation lies within the carotid sheath at the level also marked by the hyoid bone being slightly higher at B3. B6 marks the level where the common carotid can be compressed against the carotid tubercle of Chassaignac.
Reference: Gray's Anatomy for Students, 4th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.