Coronary Circulation: Arterial Anatomy, Venous Drainage, and Perfusion

All flashcards

Epicardial coronary arteries

Coronary vessels that run along the heart’s surface and follow its grooves.

Functionally end arteries

Arteries whose small connections generally cannot provide enough blood after sudden blockage.

Coronary dominance

The pattern of arterial supply to the posterior interventricular region, conventionally classified by the PDA’s origin.

Smallest cardiac veins

Also called Thebesian veins; some drain directly into the right atrium.

Posteromedial papillary muscle

Usually supplied by the PDA alone, making it more vulnerable to ischemia.

Quiz questions

1. Why are coronary arteries described as functionally end arteries?Answer: Their connections are usually too small to maintain blood flow after sudden blockage.
2. What determines coronary dominance in the conventional classification?Answer: Which artery gives rise to the posterior descending artery.
3. During which phase does most left ventricular myocardial perfusion occur?Answer: Diastole, when ventricular relaxation reduces compression of inner myocardial vessels.
4. Which arteries commonly supply the anterolateral papillary muscle?Answer: The LAD and the left circumflex artery.
5. What can severe myocardial ischemia cause?Answer: Death of myocardial cells, resulting in a myocardial infarction.