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, Preview from the app. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Sourced from 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, Preview from the app. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Sourced from 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, Preview from the app. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Sourced from 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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