PURPOSE: To evaluate the blood flow patterns and the velocities of the carotid arteries in healthy Korean adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the blood flow patterns and measured the peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities of the common, internal and external carotid arteries in 48 healthy adults who did not have cardiovascular disorders and neck lesions. The velocity difference was analyzed according to different age groups. In addition, peak systolic and end-diastolic velocity ratio of the internal to common carotid artery was estimated, and our data were compared with values reported by other authors. RESULTS: Generally, the velocity in the younger age group tends be to higher than in older group. The peak systolic and end diastolic velocities of the internal carotid artery were 84.5cm/sec and 30.5cm/sec. The peak systolic and end diastolic velocity ratio of the internal to common carotid artery were 0.715 and 0.966. The internal carotid artery was less resistant in blood flow than the external carotid artery. Our data were lower than the values which were reported by Bluth et al. CONCLUSION: The blood flow velocities of the internal carotid artery in healthy adults were lower than those of previously reported foreign values, but the patterns were similar.
Adult* ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Carotid Arteries* ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Carotid Artery, External ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Humans ; Neck