3D CONTENT
3D HEART ANATOMY

RIGHT CORONARY ARTERY

Author: Dr. Bogdan Leahu
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Right coronary artery anatomy 360-degree interactive viewer showing RCA course along atrioventricular groove
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

RIGHT CORONARY ARTERY

  • One of two main arterial branches from aorta
  • Originates from right aortic sinus
  • Courses along atrioventricular groove
  • Generally supplies right side of heart
  • Branches:
    • Conal branch
    • Sinu-atrial nodal branch
    • Atrial branches
    • Anterior ventricular branches
    • Right marginal branch
    • Inferior interventricular artery
    • Atrioventricular nodal branch

BRANCHES OF RIGHT CORONARY ARTERY

Branches of right coronary artery showing conal branch, SA nodal branch, atrial branches, anterior ventricular branches, and right marginal branch
Branches of Right Coronary Artery - Sourced from the app 3D HEART ANATOMY

Conal Branch

  • Also called conus arteriosus artery
  • Runs toward conus arteriosus
  • Supplies right ventricular outflow tract

Sinu-atrial Nodal Branch

  • Supplies sinoatrial node
  • SA node is heart's natural pacemaker
  • Encircles superior vena cava
  • May course clockwise or counterclockwise
  • Reaches sinoatrial node

Atrial Branches

  • Supply right atrium
  • Typically responsible for right atrial perfusion

Anterior Ventricular Branches

  • Supply right ventricle
  • Perfuse anterior portion of right ventricle

Right Marginal Branch

  • Significant branch of right coronary artery
  • Follows margin of heart
  • Supplies outer right ventricular wall

INFERIOR INTERVENTRICULAR ARTERY

Inferior interventricular artery (posterior descending artery) running along inferior interventricular groove with septal branches
Inferior Interventricular Artery - Sourced from the app 3D HEART ANATOMY
  • Also known as posterior descending artery
  • Runs along inferior interventricular groove
  • Gives off septal branches

Septal Branches

  • Originate from inferior interventricular artery
  • Supply interventricular septum

ATRIOVENTRICULAR NODAL BRANCH

Atrioventricular nodal branch arising from right coronary artery to supply AV node of cardiac conduction system
Atrioventricular Nodal Branch - Sourced from the app 3D HEART ANATOMY
  • Usually arises from right coronary artery
  • Supplies AV node
  • AV node is key component of cardiac conduction system

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: RIGHT CORONARY ARTERY

Key questions answered about this anatomy topic

Q: From which aortic sinus does the right coronary artery originate?

Answer: Right aortic sinus. The right coronary artery originates from the right aortic sinus (right coronary sinus) of the ascending aorta.

Q: Along which groove does the right coronary artery primarily course?

Answer: Atrioventricular groove. The right coronary artery courses along the atrioventricular (coronary) groove, which separates the atria from the ventricles.

Q: What does the conal branch of the right coronary artery supply?

Answer: Right ventricular outflow tract. The conal branch (conus arteriosus artery) runs toward the conus arteriosus and supplies the right ventricular outflow tract.

Q: Which structure does the sinu-atrial nodal branch supply?

Answer: Sinoatrial node. The sinu-atrial nodal branch supplies the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is the heart's natural pacemaker.

Q: Around which structure does the SA nodal branch encircle?

Answer: Superior vena cava. The SA nodal branch encircles the superior vena cava (either clockwise or counterclockwise) to reach the sinoatrial node.

Want to test yourself? Try the interactive quiz above!

⋮⋮ Right Coronary Artery Quiz
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