The structure of the carotid bifurcation in the lizards Tiliqua occipitalis and Trachysaurus rugosus

The origin of the internal carotid artery in the lizards Tiliqua occipitalis and Trachysaurus rugosus has been shown to be both extremely variable and complex. In the dense connective tissue investing the junction of the internal carotid artery and the summit of the carotid arch are groups of cells associated with sinusoids derved from arterioles arising from the neighboring great vessels. The conspicuous epithelioid cells in these groups resemble the mammalian carotid body glomus and amphibian α cells. Nerve fibers showing no obvious synaptic specializations pass to and over these cell groups. It is suggested that these cell groups and sinusoids are comparable to mammalian carotid body glomeruli. A similar group of cells has been described in the concavity of the summit of the fourth aortic arch. This cell group, however, gives a distinct chromaffin reaction.