Difference between the Aorta and the Carotid
The circulatory or cardiovascular apparatus or system is the one through which oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, hormones and other components are distributed throughout the body of almost all living beings. This is almost always made up of the pump: the heart; the blood, which is the medium, and the tubes that are the veins, arteries and capillaries.
In the human body, there are a series of veins and arteries that are of particular relevance. Two of them are the aorta and carotid. Mentioned more frequently than others, few people really know where they are and what their function is, even confusing them with each other with certain frequency.
Aorta |
Carotid |
|
|---|---|---|
| Is it a vein or an artery? | Artery | It is also an artery. |
| Description | The aorta is the main artery of the human body, because the life of each individual depends on its correct functioning. This is responsible for carrying and distributing freshly oxygenated blood from the heart to the entire body. The aorta is the origin of the rest of the arteries in the body (with the exception of the pulmonary arteries). This artery has a diameter of 2.5 cm. | As for the carotid arteries, they are a very important pair of arteries, as their job is to bring freshly oxygenated blood to the brain. It is possible to measure someone’s heart rate by gently pressing on this artery for short periods of time. This is called the carotid pulse. |
| Location | It starts in the right ventricle of the heart, goes up a bit, and then starts down to the abdomen. In the pelvic area they divide into the two common iliac arteries. | They are located each to the left and right of the cervicals, in the neck area. Both come out of the aortic arch (aorta), only the right carotid comes out of the brachiocephalic trunk together with the subclavian artery, while the left carotid comes out directly from the arch. |
