Topic: Development of organs
Question: Draw a diagram to depict blood flow in left versus right coronary artery?
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Left Coronary Artery:
Left Main – Gives rise to LAD and left circumflex artery
LAD – Left anterior descending artery
– Supplies anterior wall and septum of left ventricle
– Septal perforators supply septum
– Diagonal branches supply anterolateral wall
Left Circumflex – Supplies left atrium and lateral wall of left ventricle
– Marginal branches run along anterolateral margin of left ventricle
Right Coronary Artery:
Right Main – Follows right atrioventricular groove
– Supplies SA and AV nodes, part of right atrium and ventricle
– Acute marginal branch follows right margin of heart
– Posterior descending artery runs down posterior interventricular septum
– Supplies posterior wall, diaphragmatic surface of left ventricle
and interventricular septum
– Conus artery supplies right ventricular outflow tract
The left coronary artery supplies the anterior and lateral walls of the left ventricle including the septum. The LAD runs down the anterior interventricular septum while the left circumflex follows the coronary sulcus, giving off marginal branches.
The right coronary artery runs in the right atrioventricular groove and supplies the right atrium, SA/AV nodes, and inferior part of the interventricular septum via the posterior descending artery. It also gives rise to the acute marginal branch along the right heart border.
Between them, the left and right coronary arteries provide complete arterial supply to the heart through their various branches. Coronary artery disease can impair blood flow through these critical arteries depriving areas of the heart muscle leading to imbalance in oxygen supply and demand – which results in angina or heart attacks.
