3D CONTENT
3D HEART ANATOMY

LEFT CORONARY ARTERY

Author: Dr. Bogdan Leahu
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Left coronary artery anatomy 360-degree interactive viewer showing LCA origin from left aortic sinus and bifurcation
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Left Coronary Artery - Overview, Preview from the app.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LEFT CORONARY ARTERY

  • Originates from left side of aorta (left aortic sinus)
  • Supplies oxygenated blood to left part of heart
  • Most commonly bifurcates into two arteries:
    • Circumflex artery
    • Anterior interventricular artery

ANTERIOR INTERVENTRICULAR ARTERY

Anterior interventricular artery (left anterior descending) descending along interventricular sulcus with conal, diagonal, and septal branches
Anterior Interventricular Artery - Sourced from the app 3D HEART ANATOMY
  • Also known as left anterior descending artery (LAD)
  • Originates from left main coronary artery
  • Descends along interventricular sulcus
  • Gives rise to multiple important branches
  • Branches:
    • Conal branch
    • Anterior ventricular branches
    • Diagonal branch
    • Septal branches

BRANCHES OF ANTERIOR INTERVENTRICULAR ARTERY

Branches of anterior interventricular artery showing conal branch, anterior ventricular branches, diagonal branch, and septal branches
Branches of Anterior Interventricular Artery - Sourced from the app 3D HEART ANATOMY

Conal Branch

  • Small branch supplying conus arteriosus
  • Supplies part of right ventricle

Anterior Ventricular Branches

  • Supply anterior cardiac wall
  • Perfuse anterior wall of heart

Diagonal Branch

  • Courses diagonally from main artery
  • Supplies blood to left side of heart

Septal Branches

  • Penetrate interventricular septum
  • Supply significant portion of interventricular septum

CIRCUMFLEX ARTERY OF HEART

Circumflex artery anatomy 360-degree interactive viewer showing course along atrioventricular groove
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Circumflex Artery of Heart, Preview from the app.

  • Curves around the heart
  • Supplies blood to:
    • Left atrium
    • Lateral wall of left ventricle
    • Posterior wall of left ventricle
  • Branches:
    • Atrial branches
    • Atrial anastomotic branch
    • Left marginal branch
    • Inferior left ventricular branch

BRANCHES OF CIRCUMFLEX ARTERY

Branches of circumflex artery showing atrial branches, atrial anastomotic branch, left marginal branch, and inferior left ventricular branch
Branches of Circumflex Artery - Sourced from the app 3D HEART ANATOMY

Atrial Branches

  • Supply left atrium
  • Perfuse left atrial wall

Atrial Anastomotic Branch

  • Connecting vessel
  • Links circumflex artery with other atrial arteries
  • Provides collateral circulation to left atrium

Left Marginal Branch

  • Courses along left cardiac margin
  • Supplies lateral wall of left ventricle

Inferior Left Ventricular Branch

  • Descends inferiorly
  • Supplies inferior wall of left ventricle

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Drake RL, Vogl AW, Mitchell AWM. Gray's Anatomy for Students. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2020. Chapter 3: Thorax.

2. Standring S, editor. Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 42nd ed. Edinburgh: Elsevier; 2021. p. 996-1046.

3. Moore KL, Dalley AF, Agur AMR. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2018. p. 127-162.

QUICK FACTS: LEFT CORONARY ARTERY

Key questions answered about this anatomy topic

Q: From which structure does the left coronary artery originate?

Answer: Left aortic sinus. The left coronary artery originates from the left aortic sinus (left side of the aorta), supplying oxygenated blood to the left part of the heart.

Q: Into which two main branches does the left coronary artery most commonly bifurcate?

Answer: Circumflex and anterior interventricular. The left coronary artery most commonly bifurcates into the circumflex artery and the anterior interventricular artery (also known as LAD).

Q: What is another common name for the anterior interventricular artery?

Answer: Left anterior descending artery (LAD). The anterior interventricular artery is also known as the left anterior descending artery (LAD), which descends along the interventricular sulcus.

Q: Along which anatomical landmark does the anterior interventricular artery descend?

Answer: Interventricular sulcus. The anterior interventricular artery descends along the interventricular sulcus, which is the groove separating the right and left ventricles on the anterior surface of the heart.

Q: Which branch of the anterior interventricular artery supplies the conus arteriosus?

Answer: Conal branch. The conal branch is a small branch of the anterior interventricular artery that supplies the conus arteriosus and part of the right ventricle.

Want to test yourself? Try the interactive quiz above!

⋮⋮ Left Coronary Artery Quiz
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