21.6 Coronary Blood Vessels

• • The coronary circulation supplies blood to the muscle tissue of the heart. The right and left coronary arteries are the first vessels to branch from the ascending tracts.
• The coronary circulation supplies blood to the muscle tissue of the heart
• The coronary circulation includes an extensive network of coronary blood vessels
• The left coronary artery and right coronary artery originate at the base of the ascending aorta, within the aortic sinus
• Blood pressure is highest here at the base of the ascending aorta
• SUMMARY

  • Coronary circulation supplies blood to the muscles of the heart to meet the high oxygen and nutrient demands of cardiac muscle cells
  • Coronary arteries originate at the base of the ascending aorta, and each gives rise to two branches
• SUMMARY - The Right Coronary Artery

  • Right coronary artery (RCA) gives rise to both a right marginal branch and a posterior interventricular branch
• SUMMARY - The Left Coronary Artery

  • Left coronary artery (LCA) gives rise to both a circumflex branch and an anterior interventricular branch. Interconnections between arteries called anastomoses ensure a constant blood supply
• SUMMARY - The Coronary Veins

  • Great cardiac veins and middle cardiac veins carry blood from coronary capillaries to coronary sinus
  • Other cardiac veins that empty into great cardiac vein of coronary sinus are posterior vein of left ventricle, draining areas served by circumflex branch of the LCA; the middle cardiac vein, draining the areas supplied by posterior interventricular branch of LCA; and small cardiac vein, draining blood from posterior surfaces of right atrium and ventricle
  • Anterior cardiac veins drain anterior surface of right ventricle and empty directly into right atrium