Heart Model
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Coronary Anatomy and Blood Flow

Coronary artery anatomyThe major vessels of the coronary circulation are the left main coronary that divides into left anterior descending and circumflex branches, and the right main coronary artery. The left and right coronary arteries originate at the base of the aorta from openings called the coronary ostia, behind the aortic valve leaflets.

The left and right coronary arteries and their branches lie on the surface of the heart and, therefore, are sometimes referred to as the epicardial coronary vessels. These vessels distribute blood flow to different regions of the heart muscle. When the vessels are not diseased, they have a low vascular resistance relative to their more distal and smaller branches that comprise the microvascular network. As in all vascular beds, it is the small arteries and arterioles in the microcirculation that are the primary sites of vascular resistance, and therefore the primary site for regulation of blood flow. The arterioles branch into many capillaries that lie next to the cardiac myocytes. A high capillary-to-cardiomyocyte ratio and short diffusion distances ensure adequate oxygen delivery to the myocytes and removal of metabolic waste products from the cells (e.g., CO2 and H+). Capillary blood flow enters venules that join to form cardiac veins that drain into the coronary sinus on the posterior side of the heart, which drains into the right atrium. There are also anterior cardiac veins and Thebesian veins drain directly into the cardiac chambers.

Although there is considerable heterogeneity among people, the following table shows the regions of the heart that are supplied by the different coronary arteries. This anatomic distribution is important because these cardiac regions are assessed by 12-lead ECGs to help localize ischemic or infarcted regions, which can be loosely correlated with specific coronary vessels. However, because of vessel heterogeneity among patients, actual vessel involvement in ischemic conditions needs to be verified by coronary angiograms or other imaging techniques.

Anatomic Region of HeartCoronary Artery (most likely associated)
InferiorRight coronary
AnteroseptalLeft anterior descending
AnteroapicalLeft anterior descending (distal)
AnterolateralCircumflex
PosteriorRight coronary artery

The following summarizes important features of coronary blood flow:

In the presence of coronary artery disease, coronary blood flow may be reduced. This will increase oxygen extraction from the coronary blood and decrease the venous oxygen content. This leads to tissue hypoxia and angina. If the lack of blood flow is because of a fixed stenotic lesion in the coronary artery (because of atherosclerosis), blood flow can be improved within that vessel by 1) placing a stent within the vessel to expand the lumen, 2) using an intracoronary angioplasty balloon to stretch the vessel open, or 3) bypassing the diseased vessel with a vascular graft. If the insufficient blood flow is caused by a blood clot (thrombosis), a thrombolytic drug that dissolves clots may be administered. Antiplatelet drugs and aspirin are commonly used to prevent the reoccurrence of clots. If the reduced flow is because of coronary vasospasm, then coronary vasodilators can be given (e.g., nitrodilators, calcium-channel blockers) to reverse and prevent vasospasm.

Revised 11/03/2023

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