CH18QW3 Coronary Circulation

Two branches emerge from the aorta to bring blood to heart muscle

Right coronary artery, Left coronary artery

The Right coronary artery branches into

Right marginal artery, Posterior interventricular artery

The Left coronary artery branches into:

Anterior interventricular artery, Circumflex artery

The posterior Interventricular artery gets blood from 2 vessels:

Circumflex artery and Right marginal artery

Blood comes back to the heart in the coronary circulation in the:

Great cardiac vein

Through which structure does blood return from the coronary circulation back into the heart?

Coronary Sinus

Into which chamber does the blood return?

Right atrium

What is an anastomosis?

Union or joining of blood vessels

(new cross-connection between adjacent blood vessels in the circulation)

What does ischemia mean?

Temporary insufficient blood supply to an organ or a tissue (usually due to a partially blocked artery). Causes chest pain called angina pectoris, and a shortage of oxygen to cellular metabolism

What does infarction mean?

Localized necrosis (tissue death) resulting from an obstruction of the blood supply. Myocardial infarction = heart attack

Why do they do a stress test to check for angina?

A warning sign of blockage in the heart that could lead to a heart attack

If you have a partially blocked vessel, you won’t feel the effects at rest (heart muscle not working too hard, so no pain)

However, once you begin to work out, the heart beats faster, and now the blocked vessel cannot supply O2 and nutrients on time; you feel chest pains (heart can’t keep up work)