— carotidal , adj.
/keuh rot"id/ , Anat.
n.
1. Also called carotid artery . either of the two large arteries, one on each side of the head, that carry blood to the head and that divide into an external branch supplying the neck, face, and other external parts, and an internal branch supplying the brain, eye, and other internal parts.
adj.
2. pertaining to a carotid artery.
[ 1660-70; karotídes neck arteries, equiv. to karot ( ikós ) soporific ( kár ( os ) stupor + -otikos -OTIC) + -ides -ID 1 ; so called by Galen, who found that their compression causes stupor ]