Anatomy
and Function of the Coronary Arteries
Coronary arteries supply
blood to the heart muscle. Like all other tissues
in the body, the heart muscle needs oxygen-rich
blood to function, and oxygen-depleted blood
must be carried away. The coronary arteries
consist of two main arteries: the right and
left coronary arteries. The left coronary artery
system branches into the circumflex artery and
the left anterior descending artery.
The
two main coronary arteries are the left and right
coronary arteries. The left coronary artery (LCA),
which divides into the left anterior descending
artery and the circumflex branch, supplies blood
to the left ventricle and left atrium. The right
coronary artery (RCA), which divides into the
right posterior descending and acute marginal
arteries, supplies blood to the right ventricle,
right atrium, and sinoatrial node (cluster of
cells in the right atrial wall that regulates
the heart's rhythmic rate).
Additional
arteries branch off the two main coronary arteries
to supply the heart muscle with blood. These include
the following:
- circumflex artery
(Cx)
The circumflex artery branches off the left
coronary artery and encircles the heart muscle.
This artery supplies blood to the lateral side
and back of the heart.
- left anterior descending
artery (LAD)
The left anterior descending artery branches
off the left coronary artery and supplies blood
to the front of the left side of the heart.
Smaller
branches of the coronary arteries include: acute
marginal, posterior descending (PDA), obtuse marginal
(OM), septal perforator, and diagonals.
Since
coronary arteries deliver blood to the heart muscle,
any coronary artery disorder or disease can have
serious implications by reducing the flow of oxygen
and nutrients to the heart, which may lead to
a heart attack and possibly death. Atherosclerosis
(a build-up of plaque in the inner lining of an
artery causing it to narrow or become blocked)
is the most common cause of heart disease.
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