Coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle. Like all other tissues in the body, the heart muscle needs oxygen-rich blood to function, and oxygen-depleted blood must be carried away. The coronary arteries run along the outside of the heart and have small branches that supply blood to the
heart muscle. The 2 main coronary arteries are the left main and right coronary arteries. Left main coronary artery (LMCA). The left main coronary artery supplies blood to the left side of the heart muscle (the left ventricle and left atrium). The left main coronary artery divides into branches: The left anterior descending artery branches off the left coronary artery and
supplies blood to the front of the left side of the heart. The circumflex artery branches off the left coronary artery and encircles the heart muscle. This artery supplies blood to the lateral side and back of the heart. Right coronary artery (RCA). The right coronary artery supplies blood to the right ventricle, the right atrium, and the SA (sinoatrial) and AV (atrioventricular) nodes, which regulate the heart rhythm. The
right coronary artery divides into smaller branches, including the right posterior descending artery and the acute marginal artery. Additional smaller branches of the coronary arteries include the obtuse
marginal (OM), septal perforator (SP), and diagonals. Since coronary arteries deliver blood to the heart muscle, any coronary artery disorder or disease can reduce the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the heart, which may lead to a heart attack and possibly death. Atherosclerosis is inflammation and a
buildup of plaque in the inner lining of an artery causing it to narrow or become blocked. It is the most common cause of heart disease. What is coronary artery disease?Coronary heart disease, or coronary artery disease (CAD), is characterized by inflammation and the buildup of and fatty deposits along the innermost layer of the coronary arteries. The fatty deposits may develop in childhood and continue to thicken and enlarge throughout the life span. This thickening, called atherosclerosis, narrows the arteries and can decrease or block the flow of blood to the heart. The American Heart Association estimates that over 16 million Americans suffer from coronary artery disease--the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S. What are the risk factors for coronary artery disease?Risk factors for CAD often include:
Controlling risk factors is the key to preventing illness and death from CAD. What are the symptoms of coronary artery disease?The symptoms of coronary heart disease will depend on the severity of the disease. Some people with CAD have no symptoms, some have episodes of mild chest pain or angina, and some have more severe chest pain. If too little oxygenated blood reaches the heart, a person will experience chest pain called angina. When the blood supply is completely cut off, the result is a heart attack, and the heart muscle begins to die. Some people may have a heart attack and never recognize the symptoms. This is called a "silent" heart attack. Symptoms of coronary artery disease include:
How is coronary artery disease diagnosed?In addition to a complete medical history and physical exam, tests for coronary artery disease may include the following:
Treatment for coronary heart diseaseTreatment may include:
What is the function of the aorta?The aorta is the main artery that carries blood away from your heart to the rest of your body. The blood leaves the heart through the aortic valve. Then it travels through the aorta, making a cane-shaped curve that allows other major arteries to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the brain, muscles and other cells.
What is the aorta in your heart?The aorta is the largest artery of the body and carries blood from the heart to the circulatory system. It has several sections: The Aortic Root, the transition point where blood first exits the heart, functions as the water main of the body.
What causes the aorta to nourish the heart?The heart has its own system of arteries that bring oxygen and nutrients to the heart. Those are the coronary arteries. There are two major coronary arteries that branch off the aorta – the right coronary artery and the left main coronary artery.
What organs does the aorta supply blood to?In the abdominal cavity the aorta gives off a number of branches, which form an extensive network supplying blood to the stomach, liver, pancreas, spleen, small and large intestines, kidneys, reproductive glands, and other organs.
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