HEART BLOOD SUPPLY

Blood Supply of Heart

1. Arteries and Veins Supplying the Heart

• Right coronary artery (RCA) and left coronary artery (LCA) are the major arteries supplying the heart.
• The right coronary artery typically gives off the sinoatrial nodal branch, atrial branch, and posterior descending branch.
• The left coronary artery divides into the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and the left circumflex artery (LCx).
• The coronary sinus is the major vein draining the heart.

2. Course and Distribution of Right and Left Coronary Arteries

• The right coronary artery originates from the anterior aortic sinus and ascends along the anterior atrioventricular groove.
• The left coronary artery arises from the anterior aortic sinus and descends in the anterior atrioventricular groove.
• The LAD runs down the anterior interventricular groove and supplies the anterior wall and interventricular septum.
• The LCx runs down the posterior interventricular groove and supplies the lateral and posterior walls.

3. Course and Drainage of Coronary Sinus

• The coronary sinus is a large venous channel that collects blood from the myocardium.
• The coronary sinus receives blood from the great cardiac vein, middle cardiac vein, and small cardiac vein.
• The coronary sinus drains into the right atrium.

4. Applied Aspect

• Coronary artery disease (CAD) affects the coronary arteries and can lead to myocardial infarction (heart attack).
• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a surgical procedure used to bypass blocked or narrowed coronary arteries.
• The coronary sinus is an important landmark for cardiac surgeons during CABG procedures.

Developmental Aspects

The development of the coronary arteries is closely related to the development of the heart.

• The right coronary artery develops from the right aortic sinus.
• The left coronary artery develops from the left aortic sinus.
• The coronary sinus develops from the left horn of the sinus venosus.

Clinical Relevance

• Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.
• CAD can be caused by atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries.
• The coronary sinus is an important landmark for cardiac surgeons during CABG procedures.