Anatomical variations of the carotid arteries in adult Kenyans.

OBJECTIVE To describe the topography and anatomical variations of the carotid arteries among Kenyans. DESIGN A descriptive cross-sectional study. SETTING Department of Human Anatomy, University of Nairobi. SUBJECTS Eighty carotid arteries of forty cadavers were dissected. RESULTS The bifurcation of the commonest carotid artery was high (above the reference points) in 63.8% of vessels and the external carotid was antero-lateral to the internal carotid artery in 30% of the vessels. A linguo-facial trunk was the most common variation of the external carotid artery. The origin of the right common carotid artery was high and low in 10% and 2.6% of vessels respectively. CONCLUSION The carotid arteries show important variability and thus emphasise caution for clinicians during surgical procedures in the neck.