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.