The Left Coronary Artery
 The
left coronary artery (LCA) arises from the aorta above
the left cusp of the aortic valve as the
Left Main (LM) artery typically runs for
1 to 25 mm and then bifurcates into the
- Left Anterior Descending (LAD) which
runs down the anterior interventricular groove.In 78% of cases,
it reaches the apex of the heart.
- The LAD supplies the:
- anterolateral myocardium,
- apex
- interventricular septum
- 45-55% of the left ventricle (LV)
- The LAD gives off two types
of branches:
- Septals that originate
from the LAD at 90 degrees to the surface of the heart,
perforating and supplying the intraventricular septum
- Diagonals that run
along the surface of the heart and supply the lateral
wall of the LV and the anterolateral papillary muscle.
- Left Circumflex Artery (LCX) which
runs across the runs across the left atrioventricular groove it
gives off
- Obtuse Marginal (OM) branches
- The LCX supplies the:
- Posterolateral LV
- Anterolateral papillary muscle.
- SA nodal artery in 38% of people
- 15-25% of the left ventricle in
right-dominant systems.
- If the coronary anatomy is left-dominant,
the LCX supplies 40-50% of the left ventricle.
- Ramus Intermedius occurs
in 37% of the general population. It arises from from the
Left Main between the LAD and LCX.
The Coronary Circulation
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