[Plate 213, Coronary Arteries: Arteriographic Views (Continued)]Arteries
The arterial supply to the heart is the right and left coronary arteries, the first branches of the aorta.
They arise from the corresponding aortic sinuses, just distal to the origin of the aortic valve.
The left coronary artery passes between the left auricle and the pulmonary trunk. Its main branches are
A circumflex branch, which reaches the posterior surface of the heart by traveling in the atrioventricular groove around the left side of
the heart
In slightly less than half of all people, a sinoatrial (SA) nodal branch from the circumflex branch will supply the SA node.
An anterior interventricular branch (left anterior descending artery or LAD), which descends in the anterior interventricular groove to
the apex of the heart and then anastomoses with the posterior interventricular artery.
The right coronary artery runs in the atrioventricular groove to the right and around to the posterior surface of the heart. It gives rise to
The SA nodal branch near its origin (in most people)
A right marginal branch to the right margin of the heart
An AV nodal branch to the atrioventricular node, as the junction of the septa and four chambers of the heart on the posterior side of
the heart
A posterior interventricular branch that runs in the posterior interventricular groove.
The left coronary artery supplies
Left atrium
Most of left ventricle
Some of the right ventricle
Interventricular septum
SA node (40% of people)
The right coronary artery supplies
Right atrium
Most of right ventricle
Diaphragmatic surface of left ventricle
Some of the interatrial and interventricular septa
SA node (60% of people)
AV nodeVeins
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