The carotid canal is a passage in the skull that allows the internal carotid artery to enter the cranial cavity. This artery is crucial for supplying blood to the brain. The canal is located in the temporal bone, specifically near the base of the skull. Within the carotid canal, the internal carotid artery travels upward and forward before branching into smaller arteries that nourish the brain. The canal also contains sympathetic nerve fibers that help regulate blood flow. Understanding the anatomy of the carotid canal is important in fields like neurology and surgery.