Left temporal bone. Inferior surface. ("Opening of carotid canal" labeled at center left.)
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|Latin
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|[[List of subjects in Gray's Anatomy:34#Gray.27s_page_.23|Gray's]]
|colspan="2"|[subject #34 ]
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|MeSH
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|Dorlands/Elsevier
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On the interior surface of the temporal bone, behind the rough surface of the apex, is the large circular aperture of the carotid canal, which ascends at first vertically, and then, making a bend, runs horizontally forward and medialward; it transmits into the cranium the internal carotid artery, and the carotid plexus of nerves.
Through the carotid canal, also pass the sympathetics to head. They have several motor functions: raise the eyelid (superior tarsal muscle), dilate pupil, innervate sweat glands of face and scalp and constricts blood vessels in head.
