The common carotid artery gives off no branches in the neck. At the level of the hyoid bone or of the level of C4, the common carotid artery bifurcates into the external carotid artery and the internal carotid artery. The three major structures contained in the fascial carotid sheath are the common carotid artery, internal jugular vein and vagus nerve. In the upper part the carotid sheath also contains the Glossopharyngeal nerve, the Accessory nerve and the hypoglossal nerve which pierce the fascia of the carotid sheath.