Coronary Arteries circulation
Coronary arteries are found within the heart muscle which is responsible for supply of blood to the heart muscles and other components. The coronary arteries are branches of aorta which rises from the left ventricle. The wall of the aorta composed of three dilations which are superior to the aortic semilunar valve. The left coronary arteries arise from the left posterior aortic sinus while the anterior aortic sinus give rise to right coronary arteries. The third aortic sinus, right posterior aortic sinus also called the non-coronary sinus since it does not give rise to any branch of coronary arteries. The epicardial coronary arteries are those branches of coronary vessels which remains on the surface of the artery. These heart vessels supply only oxygenated blood to the heart muscle. The heart supply by these branches are crucial for their functions and also to maintain the functions of other organs such as brain, kidney, and lungs which require constant blood supply. When these arteries are interrupted, heart attack may occur which is a result of low oxygen supply to the heart muscle.
The left coronary artery
The left side of the composed of structures such as, atrium, ventricle, and the interventricular septum. These structures received the blood from the left coronary artery. The left coronary artery give rise to the circumflex artery which supplies the blood from within the heart to the outer side and back of the heart. The circumflex artery then moves via the coronary sulcus to the left where it will finally fuse with the right coronary artery branches. Another major branch of left coronary artery is larger anterior interventricular artery also known as left anterior descending artery (LAD). This artery supplies the blood to the front left side of the heart. Within the left side, it majorly supplies blood to the interventricular septum and the bundles branches which involve in conduction of impulses within the heart muscles. The LAD follows the course of anterior interventricular sulcus within the pulmonary trunk. As it moves, it gives out small branches which forms an anastomoses with the branches of the posterior interventricular artery.
An anastomosis is the union centre where vessels forms interconnections which promote blood circulation to the tissues even if the other vessels are partially blocked. Anastomosis is very crucial where most of the vessels converge, for example the circle of Willis within the brain. The anastomosis formation within the heart muscles is very limited and the process is restricted within the heart muscles. When the coronary artery is blocked, the end result will be eventually death of the cells which results in myocardial infarction.
The right coronary artery
The right side of the composed of right atrium, ventricles, the heart conduction system. All these structures are supplied with blood from the right coronary artery. Within the right atrium superior to right coronary artery some of marginal arteries arise. These marginal arteries do supply blood to superficial portions of the right ventricle. The right coronary artery on the posterior side of the heart give rise to the posterior surface of the heart also called posterior descending artery. This artery supplies the blood to the inferior side of the heart muscle. The posterior descending artery moves along the interventricular sulcus toward the apex of the heart. As it moves, it gives rise small branches which supply the interventricular septum and some parts of the two ventricles.