The image to the right (Figure 1) shows an image of a carotid artery in the neck where it divides into the artery of the external carotid artery (smaller vessel on the right) and the internal carotid ...

indicating that anatomical variations can influence the underlying causes of strokes[4]. Lastly, research on carotid artery occlusion emphasized the role of collateral circulation in stroke risk.

They travel through the carotid canal, where they enter the skull. An anatomical variation called the fetal posterior ...