The level of carotid bifurcation, frequency of the kinking of the internal carotid artery, correlation between the diameter of carotid arteries and the age of the Hungarians was examined. The cervical level of carotid bifurcation, diameter of extracranial carotid arteries, frequency of kinking of internal carotid arteries were measured on conventional carotid angiograms in 490 Hungarian patients (517 arteries, age range 12-77 yr). The cervical level of the carotid bifurcation was determined by comparison with cervical vertebra. The most frequent level of carotid bifurcation was found at the middle part of 4th cervical vertebra. The position shifted higher with ageing. The mean common carotid artery diameter was 9.24 +/- 1.58 mm in males and 7.80 +/- 1.10 mm in females. The mean internal carotid artery diameter was 8.56 +/- 1.84 in males and 7.66 +/- 1.39 in females. The mean external carotid artery diameter was 5.53 +/- 1.11 mm in males and 4.76 +/- 0.91 in females. The diameter of the common carotid artery has a significantly positive correlation with age (p < 0.05) but internal carotid artery and external carotid artery had no similar correlation. The kinking of internal carotid artery was observed frequently in patients who had higher level of carotid bifurcation.