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Variation in the Branching Pattern and Gross Appearance of Coronary Artery Branches
Author(s) -
Im Jiye,
Yee Alyssa,
Lazar Jason,
Pagano Anthony,
Marquez Samuel
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.869.3
Subject(s) - circumflex , right coronary artery , medicine , cardiology , artery , coronary arteries , anatomy , left coronary artery , coronary artery disease , interventricular septum , coronary angiography , myocardial infarction , ventricle
Research on coronary arterial branching patterns is of great clinical importance as coronary artery disease is a leading cause of death in developed nations. This study examined 16 hearts excised from donor bodies whose coronary arterial systems have experienced 64 or more years of continuous function. Gross appearance in two branches of right (sinoatrial nodal artery and posterior interventricular artery) and left (anterior interventricular and posterior circumflex arteries) coronary arteries were graded as: extremely small (ES), moderately small (MS), normal (N), moderately hypertrophied (MH), extremely hypertrophied (EH), and absent. Dominance was also recorded. Results showed that most (12/16) hearts were right‐dominated with 3 exhibiting a dual origin of the posterior interventricular artery and one case of left‐dominance. This artery, graded MH, was found enlarged in 69% of specimens. The anterior interventricular artery was graded MH in 2 cases while one graded EH. Conversely, the posterior circumflex artery was graded MS in 6 specimens, ES in 2, and absent in 4 individuals. All 16 individuals graded N in sinoatrial nodal artery appearance. Results indicate that posterior and anterior interventricular arteries are the most frequently hypertrophied, which is confirmed from our coronary angiogram data, identifying them as the most common sites for blockage. Grant Funding Source : American Association of Anatomists