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- Advanced Diagnostics
- Alcohol Septal Ablation
- Angiograms
- Angioplasty and Stenting
- Artificial Heart Devices: LVAD
- Cardiac Electrophysiologic Studies and T-wave Alternans Testing
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Cardiology
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (Grafting)
- Echocardiograms
- Electrocardiograms (ECGs), Stress Tests, Holter Monitor and Event/Loop Recorders
- Heart Transplant Surgery
- Intravascular / Intracoronary and Intracardiac Ultrasound
- Nuclear Imaging For Heart Disease (PET scans, MUGA scans)
- Off-pump Surgery
- Pediatric Heart Surgery
- Preventive Cardiology
- Robotic Heart Surgery
- Surgery for Adult Congenital Heart Disease
- Tilt Testing
- Transmyocardial Revascularization
- Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease
Coronary Arteries: Anatomy and Function
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).
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.
