The British

Medical Association

ILLUSTRATED

MEDICAL

DICTIONARY

Essential A–Z quick reference

to over 5,500 medical terms

CORONARY ARTERY

Superior

vena cava

Inferior

vena cava

Descending

aorta

Pulmonary

veins

Coronary

vein

Left

anterior

descending

artery

Right

main

coronary

artery

Left

circumflex

artery

Left main

coronary

artery

Aorta

coronaryAny structure that encircles like

a crown. The term usually refers to the

coronary arteriesencircling the heart. It is

also sometimes used as a nonmedical

term for a heart attack (see myocardial

infarction).

coronary arteryEither of the 2 main

arteriesthat supply the tissues of the

heart with oxygen-rich blood. These

arteries, known as the left and right main

coronary arteries, arise directly from the

aorta. The term coronary artery is also

applied to any of the arteries that branch

off from the main coronary arteries, such

as the left circumflex artery and the left

anterior descending artery. Blockage of a

coronary artery as a result of athero-

sclerosiscan lead to myocardial infarction.

(See also coronary artery disease.)