ECA

Medical abbreviation · Anatomy

ECA
Stands forExternal carotid artery
CategoriesMedical

ECA stands for External carotid artery, an anatomy abbreviation.

Branch of the common carotid artery that supplies the face, scalp, tongue, throat, thyroid and dura. It rarely causes stroke but matters in severe nosebleeds, head and neck surgery and as a collateral pathway to the brain when the internal carotid is blocked.

Example: Embolization of ECA branches for refractory posterior epistaxis.

Usage notes

Its eight branches are classically listed as superior thyroid, ascending pharyngeal, lingual, facial, occipital, posterior auricular, maxillary and superficial temporal. A temporal artery biopsy for suspected giant cell arteritis samples the superficial temporal branch. On duplex ultrasound the ECA shows a high-resistance waveform, unlike the low-resistance flow of the ICA.

More anatomy abbreviations

  • CNS – Central nervous system
  • CVA – Costovertebral angle
  • DIP – Distal interphalangeal (joint)
  • DP – Dorsalis pedis (artery or pulse)
  • DRG – Dorsal root ganglion
  • EAC – External auditory canal
  • EJ – External jugular (vein)
  • EOM – Extraocular muscles (movements)
  • GB – Gallbladder
  • ICA – Internal carotid artery
  • ICS – Intercostal space
  • IJ – Internal jugular (vein)

See all 70 anatomy abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.