Anatomy of the Normal Coronary Arteries

The coronary arteries carry blood to the heart muscle. Because the heart muscle is continuously working (as opposed to other muscles of the body, which are often at rest), it has a very high requirement for oxygenated blood. The coronary arteries are vitally important for supplying that blood, and allowing the heart to work normally.

   As shown in the figure, two major coronary arteries arise from the aorta – the right coronary artery (RCA) and the left main artery (LM). The left main artery quickly branches into two large arteries – the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and the circumflex artery (Cx). Blockage in any of these major coronary arteries can damage large segments of heart muscle. Heart muscle death due to blockage in a coronary artery is referred to as a myocardial infarction, or heart attack.

Next - The Cardiac Electrical System