Left coronary artery

Last updated
Left coronary artery
Gray495.png
Heart viewed from above, atria removed, base of ventricles exposed. Left coronary artery visible at left.
Coronary arteries.svg
Heart viewed from the front. Coronary arteries (labeled in red text) and other major landmarks (in blue text). Left coronary artery is at upper right in the image.
Details
Source Ascending aorta
Branches
Identifiers
Latin arteria coronaria sinistra
TA98 A12.2.03.201
TA2 4142
FMA 50040
Anatomical terminology
Left coronary artery.png

The left coronary artery (LCA, also known as the left main coronary artery, or left main stem coronary artery) is a coronary artery that arises from the aorta above the left cusp of the aortic valve, and supplies blood to the left side of the heart muscle.[ citation needed ] The left coronary artery typically runs for 10–25 mm, then bifurcates into the left anterior descending artery, and the left circumflex artery. [1]

Contents

The part that is between the aorta and the bifurcation only is known as the left main artery (LM), while the term "LCA" might refer to just the left main, or to the left main and all its eventual branches.[ citation needed ]

Structure

Variation

Sometimes, an additional artery arises at the bifurcation of the left main artery, forming a trifurcation; this extra artery is called the ramus or intermediate artery. [2]

A "first septal branch" is sometimes described. [3]

Additional images

See also

References

  1. Laird, Robert J.; Irwin, Scot (2004-01-01), Irwin, Scot; Tecklin, Jan Stephen (eds.), "Chapter 1 - Cardiovascular Structure and Function" , Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy (Fourth Edition), Saint Louis: Mosby, pp. 3–38, doi:10.1016/b978-032301840-1.50005-0, ISBN   978-0-323-01840-1 , retrieved 2020-11-20
  2. Fuster, V; Alexander RW; O'Rourke RA (2001). Hurst's The Heart (10th ed.). McGraw-Hill. p. 53. ISBN   0-07-135694-0.
  3. Verna E, Santarone M, Boscarini M, Ghezzi I, Repetto S (June 1988). "Unusual origin and course of the first septal branch of the left coronary artery: angiographic recognition". Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 11 (3): 146–9. doi:10.1007/BF02577106. PMID   3139296. S2CID   20395578.