Coronary Circulation and LV Segments Anatomy

Vocabulary flashcards covering coronary blood flow mechanisms, arterial and venous anatomy, dominance definitions, ischemia/infarction distinctions, 17-segment LV anatomy, and echocardiographic view correlations.

Coronary Circulation

The myocardium's own supply and drainage network, where coronary arteries deliver oxygenated blood and cardiac veins collect deoxygenated blood to drain mostly through the coronary sinus.

Coronary Perfusion Pressure (CPP)

The pressure difference driving blood into the coronary bed, defined as $\text{CPP} = \text{Aortic Diastolic Pressure} - \text{LVEDP}$.

Coronary Flow Reserve (CFR)

The ratio of maximum blood flow through the coronary arteries during physical stress or medication-induced hyperemia compared to resting blood flow.

Atrioventricular Sulcus

The surface groove on the heart that separates the atria from the ventricles and serves as the pathway for the Right Coronary Artery (RCA) and Left Circumflex Artery (LCx).

Crux of the Heart

The anatomical junction where the atrioventricular groove meets the inferior (posterior) interventricular groove.

Left Main Coronary Artery (LMCA)

A short trunk originating from the left aortic sinus passing behind the pulmonary trunk that typically divides into the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and left circumflex artery (LCx).

Left Anterior Descending Artery (LAD)

An artery originating from the left main coronary artery that travels down the anterior interventricular groove toward the apex, supplying the anterior LV wall, anteroseptal wall, and anterior two-thirds of the septum.

Septal Perforators

Deep branches of the LAD that enter into the interventricular septum to supply the septal myocardium and portions of the conduction system.

Diagonal Branches

Surface branches of the LAD that cross the anterior left ventricular wall diagonally to supply the anterolateral myocardium.

Left Circumflex Artery (LCx)

An artery branching from the left main coronary artery that travels leftward in the atrioventricular groove to supply the lateral and inferolateral walls of the left ventricle.

Obtuse Marginals

Branches of the left circumflex artery (LCx) that cross the lateral surface of the left ventricle to supply lateral LV myocardium.

Right Coronary Artery (RCA)

An artery originating from the right aortic sinus that travels in the right atrioventricular groove toward the crux, supplying the right atrium, right ventricle, and inferior LV regions.

Posterior Descending Artery (PDA)

An artery traveling in the posterior (inferior) interventricular groove toward the apex, supplying the inferior LV wall and posterior one-third of the septum.

Coronary Dominance

The classification of coronary circulation determined specifically by which coronary artery gives rise to the posterior descending artery (PDA).

Right Dominance

The coronary pattern where the posterior descending artery (PDA) arises from the Right Coronary Artery (RCA).

Left Dominance

The coronary pattern where the posterior descending artery (PDA) arises from the Left Circumflex Artery (LCx).

Codominance

The coronary pattern where inferior or posterolateral ventricular supply is shared, typically with the PDA arising from the RCA and significant posterolateral supply coming from the LCx.

Great Cardiac Vein

A major cardiac vein that travels alongside the LAD in the anterior interventricular groove before continuing into the left AV groove to drain into the coronary sinus.

Coronary Sinus

A large venous vessel on the posterior AV groove that receives deoxygenated blood from most cardiac veins and empties into the right atrium near the inferior atrial septum.

Myocardial Ischemia

A condition in which myocardial oxygen supply is inadequate for current demand, leading to temporary regional dysfunction that can improve when demand falls or flow returns.

Myocardial Infarction

Irreversible myocardial cell death resulting from prolonged severe ischemia, commonly triggered by acute plaque disruption and thrombus formation.

17-Segment LV Model

A standardized anatomical framework that divides the left ventricle into 6 basal segments, 6 mid segments, 4 apical segments, and 1 apical cap segment.

Segment 17 (Apical Cap)

The tip segment of the left ventricle located beyond the LV cavity, typically supplied by the left anterior descending artery (LAD).

Parasternal Long-Axis View (PLAX)

An echocardiographic view that displays opposing anteroseptal (segments 2 and 8) and inferolateral (segments 5 and 11) left ventricular walls.

Apical Four-Chamber View (A4C)

An echocardiographic view comparing the septal wall (segments 3, 9, 14) and lateral wall (segments 6, 12, 16) from base to apex, along with segment 17.

Apical Two-Chamber View (A2C)

An echocardiographic view displaying the anterior wall (segments 1, 7, 13) and inferior wall (segments 4, 10, 15) from base to apex.