Contents
The four major structures contained in the carotid sheath are:
- the common carotid artery as well as the internal carotid artery
- internal jugular vein
- the vagus nerve(CN X)
- the deep cervical lymph nodes.
The carotid artery lies medial to the internal jugular vein, and the vagus nerve is situated posteriorly between the two vessels.
In the upper part, the carotid sheath also contains the glossopharyngeal nerve (IX), the accessory nerve (XI), and the hypoglossal nerve (XII), which pierce the fascia of the carotid sheath.
The ansa cervicalis is embedded in the anterior wall of sheath. It is formed by "descendens hypoglossi" (C1) and "descendens cervicalis" (C2-C3).
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