Expansion
Carotid splits at C3 to C4, right where the hyoid bone lives
Mnemonic
“C4, the upper border of the thyroid cartilage”, which is the level of the carotid bifurcation.
Other vertebral landmarks in the neck, running down:
- C3 - hyoid bone
- C4 - upper border of thyroid cartilage, and the carotid bifurcation
- C6 - cricoid cartilage, and with it the start of the oesophagus and trachea, the middle cervical sympathetic ganglion, and the point at which the vertebral artery enters the transverse foramen
- T1 to T2 - the suprasternal notch
C6 is the busiest level in the neck: cricoid, oesophagus begins, trachea begins, vertebral artery enters, and the recurrent laryngeal nerve reaches the larynx.
Expansion
- Vertebral level - C3 to C4
- Landmark - near the upper border of the thyroid cartilage