The coronaryarteriessupply blood to the myocardium (heart muscle).
This article will go over the anatomy of the coronary arteries.
You will also learn about the coronary artery’s blood supply and how it helps the heart keep pumping.
Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator:Licenses
Why Are The Coronary Arteries Important?
The coronary arteries have a very important job.
This is called amyocardial infarction, or heart attack.
The coronary arteries arise from the aorta (the bodys main artery) just beyond the hearts aortic valve.
The picture above shows the right coronary artery and the left coronary arteries with the LAD and Cx arteries.
The RCA is shown on the left side of the figure, coursing around the edge of the heart.
This is called right dominant.
However, in 25%, the PDA arises from the Cx artery, which is called left dominant.
The LAD supplies the left atrium and major portions of the left ventriclethe hearts major pumping chamber.
A heart attack arising from a blockage in the LAD almost always does serious damage.
Coronary artery plaques in the LAD are often referred to by cardiologists as widow makers.
Summary
The anatomy of the coronary arteries ensures enough blood gets to and from the heart.
If a coronary artery’s blood supply is blocked, it can lead to a heart attack.
They’re commonly referred to as “widow makers” because a block in this artery is often fatal.
Coronary artery anatomy is set up to verify that oxygen-rich blood can get to the heart.
Harvard Medical School.Bypass or angioplasty with stenting: How do you choose?.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Anatomy and Function of the Coronary Arteries.
National Cancer Institute.Classification & Structure of Blood Vessels.
Lancet 2013;381:639. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60108-7
