Mostly because it has no valves, like veins do, so the flow in carotid arteries is a result of left ventricular contraction.
Sometimes a flow in the carotid artery is due to a blockage and may be called a 'flow void' and this is a serious condition which can dislodge a thrombosis (Blood clot)and allow it to flow in the cardiovascular system as an embolism, which is a freely moving blood clot. It can get stuck in the lungs (pneumothorax) or in the brain (stroke).
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The Carotid artery
The cause of carotid stenosis is the buildup of plaque on the inner wall of the carotid artery. The reduced blood flow to the brain and the blockage of other arteries following the release of emboli can cause a stroke.
A flow void is a place in the artery that's not showing any blood flow. Dominant suggests that there's one major area of missing flow.
the carotid artery passes through the carotid canal to the brain
the internal carotid artery