Coronary Arteries: Anatomy and Function

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Like all other tissues in the body, the heart muscle needs oxygen-rich blood to function, and oxygen-depleted blood must be carried away. Coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle.

What are the different coronary arteries?

There are two main coronary arteries, the left main and right coronary arteries. The left main coronary artery, divides into the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and the circumflex branch (Cx).

These arteries supply blood to the heart ventricles and left atrium. The left anterior descending artery (LAD) supplies blood to the front of the heart, and the circumflex artery, which encircles the heart, supplies blood to the side and back of the heart.

The right coronary artery (RCA) also supplies blood to the heart ventricles, as well as the right atrium and sinoatrial node (a cluster of cells in the right atrial wall that regulates the heart's rhythm).

Smaller branches of the coronary arteries include: acute marginal, posterior descending (PDA), obtuse marginal (OM), and diagonals.

Why are the coronary arteries important?

Since coronary arteries deliver blood to the heart muscle, any coronary artery disorder or disease can have serious implications by reducing the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the heart, which may lead to a heart attack and possibly death. Atherosclerosis (a build-up of plaque in the inner lining of an artery causing it to narrow or become blocked) is the most common form of coronary artery disease.